Rules Committee debates limits on press electronics; secretary to circulate draft and decision points

The Senate Rules Committee on April 15 discussed a proposed update to rules governing press use of electronic devices and livestreaming in the Senate chamber and gallery, and directed the committee secretary to prepare draft language and decision points for members to review before the next meeting.

The committee chair said the secretary had prepared an abbreviated update and would circulate a sheet with “the PR range of topics that you need to consider,” promising a fuller draft by the end of the week. The chair summarized possible decision points: location restrictions (for example, a designated area of the gallery or balcony), what types of electronics would be allowed, whether streaming or live broadcasting from chamber areas would be permitted, and who would be classified as "press" for purposes of credentialing.

“Video reports without broadcasting the floor,” one senator said when discussing permissible activity from the press gallery, and another member noted that committee rooms have different streaming infrastructure than the chamber. The chair emphasized priorities: avoiding distractions on the floor and limiting use to defined areas. He said past practice in the chamber had been to address violations by asking attendees to turn off devices or by removing devices: “The passage is nowhere from it. So Right. Basically take them away or we ask them to turn them off, then we—” (secretary/staff comment in transcript describing enforcement in practice).

Committee members discussed credentialing and whether the policy should treat social-media channels and online-only platforms as press. One member said they would not have a problem with an online political-media channel producing video reports from the gallery as long as streaming from the floor would remain restricted. Another committee member proposed limiting live broadcasting and confining streaming to an identified press area such as half the balcony or the press gallery similar to practices in some House chambers.

The secretary said he would provide recommended draft language and structuring advice for whatever rule the committee chooses, and the committee agreed to review decision points at the next meeting. There was no formal vote; the committee concluded with instructions to produce a written proposal and to bring decision points for action at a future session.