Commentari

Commentari is a civic engagement platform designed to bridge the gap between complex federal regulations and meaningful public participation. Built by Eric Epstein, a 32-year DOJ and ATF senior policy counsel and primary author of the Ghost Gun Rule, this tool solves a fundamental democratic problem: federal agencies issue rules faster than stakeholders can respond, and form letters get dismissed as a single comment. Commentari closes that gap by turning bureaucratic documents into clear, actionable insights. The platform helps individuals and organizations understand pending legislation and complex rules, craft unique and substantive comments, and submit them directly to Regulations.gov or Congress through authorized channels. For individual users, Commentari offers three free comments per month, instant policy analysis, and smart drafting tools that let you choose your stance and tone. For organizations, the platform provides branded campaign pages, real-time member analytics, automated policy tracking, and seamless integration for coordinated advocacy. Over 1,500 active bills and regulations are currently tracked in the real-time database. Commentari is built for anyone who wants their voice heard in the democratic process, from concerned citizens to professional advocacy groups. No templates, no duplication, just your argument in your voice on the record.

Instant Policy Analysis

Don't read 500 pages of legal jargon. Commentari digests complex statutes and regulations into clear, unbiased summaries you can actually understand. The AI identifies issues agencies must address under the Administrative Procedure Act, giving you the critical context needed to craft an impactful comment without spending hours deciphering dense legal text.

Smart Drafting

Write professional, effective public comments in seconds. Choose your position, whether you are against, neutral, or supporting a policy, and select your tone from options like professional, legalistic, witty, or urgent. The AI helps each supporter draft a unique, substantive comment in their own voice, ensuring no two submissions are identical and every argument carries weight.

Campaign Management for Organizations

Organizations get powerful tools for coordinated advocacy. Create branded campaign pages, track engagement metrics in real time, and monitor nightly rule tracking with citation verification. Embeddable donation links allow you to fundraise directly within your advocacy campaigns, turning passive supporters into active contributors to your cause.

Verified Submission Integration

Submissions go directly to Regulations.gov and to Congress through authorized channels. Commentari handles the paperwork, ensuring your comment is officially recorded and counted. This verified integration eliminates the guesswork and technical hurdles of submitting public comments, guaranteeing your voice reaches the decision-makers who need to hear it.

Individual Citizen Advocacy

A concerned citizen discovers a new environmental regulation that could affect their local water supply. Instead of struggling through hundreds of pages of legal text, they use Commentari to get a plain language summary, select their position of support or opposition, and draft a unique comment in a professional tone. They submit directly to Regulations.gov in minutes, ensuring their personal perspective is on the official record.

Nonprofit Campaign Coordination

An environmental nonprofit launches a campaign against a proposed rollback of clean air standards. Using Commentari's organizational features, they create a branded campaign page, set up automated policy tracking for updates, and mobilize their members to submit individual comments. The real-time analytics dashboard shows engagement metrics, allowing the team to adjust their strategy and maximize collective impact.

Advocacy Group Legislative Response

A gun safety advocacy group needs to respond quickly to a new bill introduced in Congress. Commentari's instant policy analysis breaks down the complex legislation into digestible points. The group uses the smart drafting tool to help each supporter craft a unique message to their legislator, avoiding the dismissal that comes with form letters. Submissions go through authorized congressional channels for maximum effectiveness.

Trade Association Member Engagement

A trade association representing small manufacturers wants to engage its members on a new OSHA regulation. They use Commentari to provide clear summaries and coordinated comment drafting tools. Members can choose their stance and tone while the association tracks participation rates and citation accuracy. The embeddable donation link helps fund further advocacy efforts, creating a self-sustaining engagement loop.

How does Commentari ensure my comment is unique and not flagged as a duplicate?

Commentari is built on the principle of no templates and no duplication. The AI analyzes your selected stance and tone, then helps you draft a comment in your own voice using your specific arguments and language. Every submission is unique because it reflects your personal perspective, not a pre-written form letter. This approach ensures your comment carries more weight with agencies reviewing public submissions.

Is Commentari free to use for individuals?

Yes, individuals can sign up for free and receive three free comments per month. This allows you to test the platform, understand how it works, and participate in the democratic process without any upfront cost. For users who need more frequent commenting, Commentari offers additional credit options to suit your engagement level.

How does Commentari handle my personal data and privacy?

Commentari is committed to protecting your personal information. The platform follows strict privacy policies and responsible use guidelines. Your data is collected and used only to facilitate your commenting activities and improve your experience. Commentari does not share your personal information with third parties without your consent, and you maintain control over your account and submissions.

Can organizations track the impact of their campaigns on Commentari?

Absolutely. Organizations using Commentari have access to real-time member analytics and engagement metrics. The platform tracks how many comments have been submitted, which policies are being targeted, and the overall participation rate of your community. Nightly rule tracking and citation verification ensure your campaigns are accurate and effective, giving you data-driven insights to amplify your advocacy efforts.