Commentari

Commentari is a civic engagement platform designed to bridge the gap between complex government regulations and meaningful public participation. Built by Eric Epstein, a 32-year veteran senior policy counsel at the DOJ and ATF, the platform addresses a critical problem: federal agencies issue rules faster than stakeholders can respond, and form letters get dismissed as single, unimpactful comments. Commentari closes that gap by making it simple for anyone to understand pending legislation and rules, then craft a unique, substantive comment that carries real weight.

The platform is for individuals who want their voice heard on policies that affect their lives, as well as organizations like nonprofits, advocacy groups, and associations that need to coordinate campaigns and track collective impact. Instead of reading hundreds of pages of legal jargon, users get instant, unbiased summaries of complex statutes and regulations. The AI drafting tool then helps each supporter write a comment in their own voice, choosing their stance and tone from options like professional, legalistic, witty, or urgent. Submissions go directly to Regulations.gov and to Congress through authorized channels.

For organizations, Commentari provides branded campaign pages, real-time member analytics, automated policy tracking, and seamless integration with existing tools. The platform tracks over 1,500 active bills and regulations in its real-time database, making it easy to find your cause, craft your message, and make it official. Commentari is built for democracy, turning bureaucratic documents into clear, actionable steps for civic participation.

Instant Policy Analysis

Don't read 500 pages of legal jargon. Commentari's AI digests complex statutes and regulations into clear, unbiased summaries you can actually understand. This feature saves you hours of research time, highlighting the key issues that agencies must address under the Administrative Procedure Act so you can focus on what matters most.

Smart Drafting

Write professional, effective public comments in seconds. Choose your stance (support, against, or neutral) and your tone (professional, legalistic, witty, or urgent), and let the AI help you articulate your position in your own voice. No templates, no duplication. Just your argument, on the record.

Collective Impact Campaigns

Join forces with others to multiply your influence. Organizations can coordinate branded campaigns, track engagement metrics in real-time, and see the collective impact of their community on specific policies. Embeddable donation links and citation verification tools make it easy to run a full advocacy operation from one dashboard.

Verified Submission Channels

Your comments go directly to the right place. The platform integrates with Regulations.gov for federal rulemaking and authorized channels for Congress. You don't need to navigate confusing government websites or worry about proper formatting. Commentari handles the paperwork, ensuring your voice is officially on the record.

Individual Citizen Engagement

A concerned citizen wants to comment on a new environmental regulation but finds the 300-page proposal overwhelming. They use Commentari to get a plain-language summary, choose their stance, and draft a unique, personal comment in minutes. Their submission is sent directly to Regulations.gov, ensuring their voice counts.

Nonprofit Advocacy Campaigns

A nonprofit focused on gun safety wants to mobilize its members to comment on a proposed rule. They create a branded campaign page, use the AI tool to help each member draft a unique comment, and track engagement metrics in real-time. The organization sees exactly how many comments were submitted and the collective impact of their community.

Small Business Compliance

A small business owner is affected by a new Department of Labor rule but doesn't have the resources to hire a lawyer. They use Commentari to understand the rule's implications and draft a comment explaining how the regulation would impact their operations. Their unique perspective is added to the public record.

Academic Research and Advocacy

A university researcher studying administrative law uses Commentari to track pending regulations in their field. They can quickly analyze multiple rules, draft comments on behalf of their department, and monitor how agencies respond to public input. The platform's citation verification ensures their academic work remains accurate.

How does Commentari ensure my comment is unique and not a form letter?

Commentari is built specifically to avoid duplication. The AI helps you articulate your own personal perspective, using your chosen stance and tone to generate a comment that reflects your individual voice. No templates are used, meaning each submission is unique and more likely to be taken seriously by agencies reviewing public comments.

Is Commentari free to use?

Yes, you can sign up for free and get 3 free comments per month. This allows you to test the platform and see how it works before committing to a paid plan. For organizations and heavy users, additional credits and features are available through subscription plans.

Who built Commentari and why should I trust it?

Commentari was built by Eric Epstein, a 32-year senior policy counsel at the DOJ and ATF. He is the primary author of the Ghost Gun Rule and a recipient of the Distinguished Presidential Rank Award. He spent decades on the receiving end of public comments, so the platform is designed by someone who understands exactly what makes a comment effective and how agencies evaluate them.

How do I know my comment was actually submitted?

Commentari provides verified submission through its integration with Regulations.gov and authorized congressional channels. You will receive confirmation that your comment has been officially submitted and is on the public record. The platform handles all the technical details so you don't have to worry about broken links or incorrect formatting.