As for what goes on when legislators leave the hearing room, that can be anything from wheeling and dealing, to attending another concurrent hearing, to the banality of eating or using the restroom. It’s not unheard of for legislators (and/or staff) to listen from the office on closed-circuit audio, but I wouldn’t go so far as to say it’s the norm. However, on a hot-button issue like this my hunch would be that they would pay closer attention.

Thanks for going and writing your reaction, by the way.