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Lawmakers introduce rule change to allow press on House floor with Speaker authorization
Summary
Rep. Mickelson introduced RS 32,118 to clarify that credentialed news media may be on the House floor during transacting of business unless the Speaker specifically denies authorization; sponsors said the change preserves transparency while leaving final access decisions to the Speaker.
Representative Mickelson presented RS 32,118, a revision to House rules that clarifies which media may be on the floor during transacting of House business. The text, Mickelson said, restores press access that some argued was inadvertently narrowed by prior language that used the word "only." He described the change as a small correction intended to ensure the press may be present for legislative business.
Mickelson told the committee the change matters for visibility and transparency: "I think that the feeling has been is that democracy dives in darkness and so allowing the press to ... take better pictures ... gives us credibility as a legislature," he said. Under the text before the committee, the Speaker of the House retains authority to authorize specific media on the floor; Mickelson pointed members to the clause that makes the Speaker the final approver.
Committee members raised questions about whether the Speaker has final control and whether credentialing or limits might be necessary if demand grows. Mickelson said the Speaker already has authority under the rule and added that if seats on the floor become scarce the legislature could consider a credentialing process.
The committee voted to introduce RS 32,118 for a full hearing.
