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Advisory panel reviews draft decorum rules for committee hearings
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Summary
The Advisory Committee on Capital Area Security reviewed proposed committee decorum language drafted by DPS and the sergeants at arms, discussed enforcement and whether rules should be joint or adopted separately by the House and Senate. The committee adopted prior minutes 5–0.
The Advisory Committee on Capital Area Security spent much of its Nov. 21 meeting reviewing proposed committee decorum language intended to set common expectations for conduct in legislative hearings.
Madam Chair opened discussion by saying the draft decorum language was prepared by the Department of Public Safety and reviewed by the house and senate sergeants at arms before being provided to the committee for feedback. Sergeant at arms advisers told the committee the recommendation is for rules at the start of each biennium that would define permitted and prohibited behavior and spell out enforcement steps, including giving the chair authority to clear a hearing room in case of disturbance.
Senator Westland said the aim is “a floor of expectations” while preserving each committee chair’s authority, and cautioned that joint rules can be difficult to pass; he recommended each legislative body adopt rules at the start of its biennium to make enforcement easier and clear for sergeants.
Representative Mueller supported having consistent language but urged the committee to include explicit wording that members are expected to follow directions from capital security and the sergeants at arms.
Chief Justice Hudson and a judicial adviser described recent updates to courtroom decorum policies and offered that some courtroom-language may be useful as the committee refines building-wide rules. The judicial adviser noted building entry signage and screening already communicate rules to the public.
Colonel Bogayevich (Department of Public Safety) and other advisers emphasized that consistency across hearings makes it easier for troopers and temporary officers brought in during session to enforce rules, and that permitted events elsewhere on the Capitol Grounds can complicate enforcement of hearing-specific decorum.
Representative Nash recommended that the committee consult the house and senate chief clerks, who already maintain extensive guidance on member conduct and other procedural matters.
The committee did not vote on a final decorum rule during the meeting; members and advisers agreed to take comments back for refinement and to bring updated language to a future meeting.
The committee adopted minutes from Oct. 27, 2025, by roll call (5 ayes, 0 nays).
