Commentari

Commentari is a civic engagement platform built to solve a fundamental problem: federal agencies issue rules faster than stakeholders can respond. The traditional process relies on form letters, which get dismissed as a single comment. Commentari closes that gap by helping everyday people and organizations turn complex government documents into clear, personal, and impactful public comments. The platform was built by Eric Epstein, a 32-year veteran of the Department of Justice and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. He served as senior policy counsel and was the primary author of the Ghost Gun Rule. He earned the Distinguished Presidential Rank Award. He spent decades on the receiving end of public comments. He designed Commentari from that experience. The platform summarizes complex rules and pending legislation in plain language. It identifies issues that agencies must address under the Administrative Procedure Act. It helps each supporter draft a unique, substantive comment in their own voice. Submissions go directly to Regulations.gov and to Congress through authorized channels. For organizations, Commentari offers branded campaigns, nightly rule tracking, citation verification, engagement metrics, and embeddable donation links. There are no templates. There is no duplication. The core promise is simple: your argument, in your voice, on the record. Commentari is for individual citizens who want to participate in democracy. It is for nonprofit groups, advocacy organizations, and associations that need to coordinate their communities. It is for anyone who believes that democracy is better when more people participate. The platform currently tracks over 1,500 active bills and regulations in its real-time database. New users can sign up for free and get three comments per month at no cost.

Instant Policy Analysis

Don't read 500 pages of legal jargon. Commentari uses artificial intelligence to digest complex statutes and regulations into clear, unbiased summaries that you can actually understand. The analysis identifies the key issues an agency must address under the Administrative Procedure Act. This feature saves hours of reading time and ensures you know what is really at stake before you write a single word.

Smart Drafting

Write professional, effective public comments in seconds. You choose your stance: support, against, or neutral. You choose your tone: professional, legalistic, witty, or urgent. The AI helps you articulate your position in your own voice. Each comment is unique and substantive. There are no templates and no duplication. The result is a comment that gets read and taken seriously by decision makers.

Verified Submission

Commentari handles the paperwork. Your comment is submitted directly to Regulations.gov for federal rules or to Congress through authorized channels. You do not need to navigate confusing government websites or worry about formatting requirements. The platform ensures your comment arrives where it needs to go, on time, and in the proper format. Your voice is officially on the record.

Organization Campaign Tools

For nonprofits, advocacy groups, and associations, Commentari provides powerful tools to lead communities to meaningful action. Features include branded campaign pages, real-time member analytics, automated policy tracking, and seamless integration with your existing systems. You can track nightly rule changes, verify citations, measure engagement metrics, and embed donation links directly into your campaigns. Multiply your impact across your entire community.

Individual Citizen Commenting on a New Federal Rule

A concerned citizen learns about a new federal regulation that affects their local environment. They search the Commentari database, find the rule, and read the plain language summary. They choose their stance and preferred tone. The AI helps them draft a personal comment explaining how the rule would impact their family and their community. They submit the comment with one click. Their individual voice is now part of the official record.

Advocacy Group Coordinating a Campaign

A nonprofit organization focused on consumer protection wants to mobilize its members to comment on a proposed rule about product safety. The organization creates a branded campaign page using Commentari. Members receive clear summaries of the rule and guidance on key issues. Each member drafts their own unique comment using the smart drafting tool. The organization tracks real-time engagement metrics and sees exactly how many comments were submitted and from where.

Small Business Owner Responding to Regulations

A small business owner receives a notice about a new regulation that could affect their operations. They do not have time to read hundreds of pages of legal text. They use Commentari to get a clear, unbiased summary. They write a comment explaining their specific concerns about compliance costs and operational challenges. Their unique perspective as a small business owner is documented and submitted directly to the agency.

Student or Researcher Analyzing Policy

A graduate student studying public policy uses Commentari to track multiple bills and regulations related to their research topic. The platform provides instant analysis and keeps them updated on changes. The student can generate comments for class assignments or actual submissions. They gain hands-on experience with the federal rulemaking process while contributing their academic perspective to important policy debates.

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

Commentari uses artificial intelligence to help you draft your comment in your own voice. You provide your stance and preferred tone. The AI helps you articulate your personal perspective. There are no pre-written templates to choose from. Each comment is generated based on your specific inputs and your unique situation. This approach ensures your comment stands out and is taken seriously by agency reviewers.

Is Commentari free to use?

Yes, Commentari offers a free tier. New users can sign up and get three free comments per month. This allows you to test the platform and participate in democracy without any financial commitment. For organizations and users who need more comments or advanced features, additional options are available. You can start making your voice heard today at no cost.

How does Commentari handle my personal information and data?

Commentari takes your privacy seriously. The platform has a clear Privacy Policy that explains how your personal information and data are collected, used, and protected. There is also a Responsible Use policy that outlines ethical AI guidelines. Your comments are your own. Commentari does not reuse or duplicate your content. You maintain control over your submissions and your account information.

Can organizations use Commentari to manage their advocacy campaigns?

Absolutely. Commentari is built for organizations including nonprofits, advocacy groups, and associations. The platform offers branded campaign pages, real-time member analytics, automated policy tracking, and seamless integration with your existing tools. You can track nightly rule changes, verify citations, measure engagement metrics, and embed donation links. These features help you coordinate your community and multiply your collective impact on policy.