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Media Access & Credentialing

A State-by-State Report

Updated in December 2009

 

In March, members of NCSL's Legislative Information and Communication Staff Section (LINCS) were asked how many state legislatures allow reporters on the floor while in session? We also provided LINCS members the opportunity to add any thoughts/recommendations on how to provide media credentialing. The responses have been posted below and are available to all LINCS members. 
LINCS members work in both partisan and non-partisan offices in state legislatures across the country. LINCS members have various public information or media relations responsibilities, including public information officers, press secretaries, broadcast staff, writers, producers and civic education directors. If you would like to include your state's policy regarding media access and credentialing, please contact NCSL.

 State  Media Access  Cameras  Credentialing  Comments
 

Alabama

 

Constitution guarantees access to floors in both chambers; glassed-in press boxes provided

    Press boxes equipped with phones, internet access, audio feeds from both chambers
 

Alaska

 

Allowed on H floor w press pass; designated areas at rear of chamber

 

Allowed on H floor w press pass; photos taken only from perimeter aisles

 

Photo press passes prepared by Leg. info staff

 

AK has detailed Capitol press rules in writing

 

Arkansas

 

No access to floors; press gallery provided


Still cameras allowed on floor w press pass; broadcast media must use press gallery

 

Press badges available from coordinator of Legislative Services

 
 

California

 

Allowed on floors in designated press bays

   

Credentials issued by info staff of each chamber; standards established by Capitol Press Corps Association

 

No interviews allowed on floor while in session

Colorado All journalists on the House floor have to sign in with the chamber's segeants Electronic media can use equipment during floor proceedings. However, they are restricted to certain area where they can set up.    
 

Delaware

 

Allowed on H floor in designated areas

 

Allowed on floor while in session

 

None

 
 

Hawaii

 

Not allowed on floor; must use adjacent press boxes

 

Not allowed on floor; audio plugs provided in press boxes

   
 

Illinois

 

Not allowed on floors; must use press boxes

 

Not allowed on floors; TV must use designated part of gallery

 

Senate & House Operations provides ID security badges

 

Permission from Chair and approval of chamber required for videotaping, audio recording, still photography

 

Indiana

 

Allowed in back of room but not near member desks

   

ID badges available from Dept. of Administration through Gov. Office

 
 

Iowa

 

Allowed in chambers at designated press benches

   

Handled by nonpartisan Secretary of Senate, Chief Clerk of House

 
 

Kansas

 

Allowed with media pass

   

House Speaker’s Office handles media passes – must be signed by speaker and Sen. president

 

Media must request pass before session on company letterhead or by e-mail; then must come to speaker’s office and show picture ID to get pass; color changes each year

 

Kentucky

 

Designated press sections on floors of both chambers

   

Legislative Info Office approves credentials

 

 

 

Louisiana

 

Allowed at designated press tables

   

Handled by info staff, Sergeants at Arms

 

Credentialing used to be done by State Police

 

Maryland

 

All media allowed on floor in both chambers

   

Standard press credentials required

 
 

Minnesota

 

Allowed but must remain in back alcoves

 

TV cameras not allowed in alcoves; balcony area reserved for them

 

Credentials required; can be revoked if holder “does something wrong”

 

Credentials have been revoked when reporter looked at papers on members’ desks; photographer shot members playing games on computers

Mississippi
Eight full-frontal seats in House chamber. Media restricted to that area during live sessions.

Credentialed media photographers allowed to still shoot from along chamber walls and gallery above chamber; video cameras must shoot from galleries only.

Handled by House PIO after his/her review. Currently do not credential any bloggers but reviewing situation.

In addition to front row chamber seats, credentialed media has office in Capitol. It's a glassed-in area on top floor looking down upon the rest of the building.

Missouri Senate: Allowed in Senate Chamber at designated press table. Other media has access from public gallery.  Senate: Must make written request with the majority floor leader’s office. Allowed to shoot video or take photographs(without the use of a flash) once announced on the floor with no objection. Video and photos may be taken only from platform areas on each side of the dais.  Senate: Credentials are not issued by the Senate. Press table seating, capitol offices and parking spaces are governed by the Capitol Press Corps bylaws.
 
 Senate: Audio feeds are available at each seat at the press table located on the floor, as well as for video cameras located on the designated platforms. Reporters are allowed the use of laptops at the press table and have access to wireless Internet service. Reporters are not allowed to conduct interviews in the chamber while in session. Reporters, if on the floor, must adhere to Senate dress code. Extra ties and jackets are on hand.
 

Montana

 

Allowed on floors of  both chambers

 

Allowed on floor in both chambers

 

Press pass required; issued by Dept. of Administration

 

No criteria for issuance of press passes

 

Nebraska

 

Allowed on floor during session

   

Administered by Clerk of Legislature

 

Full-time Capitol media can get permanent credentials; others get temporary ones

 

Nevada

 

Not allowed on floor in either chamber; press room provided

   

Press badges required to use press room

 

Can go on floor during recess in Assembly, not in Senate

 

New York

 

State Assembly allows on floor

 

Cameras must shoot from gallery

   
 

Oregon

 

Desk provided on floor against side wall

     
Oklahoma

Media Access in both the House and Senate are glassed in press areas at the back of each chamber. No floor access is allowed.

Cameras have their own glassed in area in both chambers. In both the House and Senate there are three separate glassed-in areas, one for print media, one for radio, and one for television. There is no credentialing required.

Both the House and Senate are equipped with wireless internet accessible for free by the press.

 

Pennsylvania

 

Small press row provided at back of chamber; also speaker system in capitol newsroom

   

Credentials required

 
 

Rhode Island


Media allowed on floors

 

Allowed on floors

 

None required

 

House has restricted access, Senate policy is more open

 

Tennessee

 

Reporters not allowed on H floor during session

 

Cameras can set up next to floor

   

Reporters not allowed to conduct interviews during session

 

Texas

 

Allowed on floors during session but only “outside the rings”

 

Allowed on floors during session but only “outside the rings”

 

Credentials required

 
 

Virginia

 

Allowed to sit at designated tables on floors

   

Credentialing handled by Capitol Press Corps Assoc

 
 

Washington

 

Allowed to sit at designated tables on floors.

   

Credentialing handled by Capitol Press Corps Assoc.

 

Reporters not allowed to wander on floors

 

West Virginia

 

Members of “official” news organizations allowed at designated press table on floor

   

Speaker appoints media committee to approve credentialing

 

 

 

Wyoming

 

Media tables available on floors of both chambers on first-come, first-served basis

   

Legislative Info Office issues media credentials

 

Media Access & Credentialing

A State-by-State Report

Updated in December 2009

 

In March, members of NCSL's Legislative Information and Communication Staff Section (LINCS) were asked how many state legislatures allow reporters on the floor while in session? We also provided LINCS members the opportunity to add any thoughts/recommendations on how to provide media credentialing. The responses have been posted below and are available to all LINCS members. 
LINCS members work in both partisan and non-partisan offices in state legislatures across the country. LINCS members have various public information or media relations responsibilities, including public information officers, press secretaries, broadcast staff, writers, producers and civic education directors. If you would like to include your state's policy regarding media access and credentialing, please contact NCSL.

 State  Media Access  Cameras  Credentialing  Comments
 

Alabama

 

Constitution guarantees access to floors in both chambers; glassed-in press boxes provided

    Press boxes equipped with phones, internet access, audio feeds from both chambers
 

Alaska

 

Allowed on H floor w press pass; designated areas at rear of chamber

 

Allowed on H floor w press pass; photos taken only from perimeter aisles

 

Photo press passes prepared by Leg. info staff

 

AK has detailed Capitol press rules in writing

 

Arkansas

 

No access to floors; press gallery provided


Still cameras allowed on floor w press pass; broadcast media must use press gallery

 

Press badges available from coordinator of Legislative Services

 
 

California

 

Allowed on floors in designated press bays

   

Credentials issued by info staff of each chamber; standards established by Capitol Press Corps Association

 

No interviews allowed on floor while in session

Colorado All journalists on the House floor have to sign in with the chamber's segeants Electronic media can use equipment during floor proceedings. However, they are restricted to certain area where they can set up.    
 

Delaware

 

Allowed on H floor in designated areas

 

Allowed on floor while in session

 

None

 
 

Hawaii

 

Not allowed on floor; must use adjacent press boxes

 

Not allowed on floor; audio plugs provided in press boxes

   
 

Illinois

 

Not allowed on floors; must use press boxes

 

Not allowed on floors; TV must use designated part of gallery

 

Senate & House Operations provides ID security badges

 

Permission from Chair and approval of chamber required for videotaping, audio recording, still photography

 

Indiana

 

Allowed in back of room but not near member desks

   

ID badges available from Dept. of Administration through Gov. Office

 
 

Iowa

 

Allowed in chambers at designated press benches

   

Handled by nonpartisan Secretary of Senate, Chief Clerk of House

 
 

Kansas

 

Allowed with media pass

   

House Speaker’s Office handles media passes – must be signed by speaker and Sen. president

 

Media must request pass before session on company letterhead or by e-mail; then must come to speaker’s office and show picture ID to get pass; color changes each year

 

Kentucky

 

Designated press sections on floors of both chambers

   

Legislative Info Office approves credentials

 

 

 

Louisiana

 

Allowed at designated press tables

   

Handled by info staff, Sergeants at Arms

 

Credentialing used to be done by State Police

 

Maryland

 

All media allowed on floor in both chambers

   

Standard press credentials required

 
 

Minnesota

 

Allowed but must remain in back alcoves

 

TV cameras not allowed in alcoves; balcony area reserved for them

 

Credentials required; can be revoked if holder “does something wrong”

 

Credentials have been revoked when reporter looked at papers on members’ desks; photographer shot members playing games on computers

Mississippi
Eight full-frontal seats in House chamber. Media restricted to that area during live sessions.

Credentialed media photographers allowed to still shoot from along chamber walls and gallery above chamber; video cameras must shoot from galleries only.

Handled by House PIO after his/her review. Currently do not credential any bloggers but reviewing situation.

In addition to front row chamber seats, credentialed media has office in Capitol. It's a glassed-in area on top floor looking down upon the rest of the building.

Missouri Senate: Allowed in Senate Chamber at designated press table. Other media has access from public gallery.  Senate: Must make written request with the majority floor leader’s office. Allowed to shoot video or take photographs(without the use of a flash) once announced on the floor with no objection. Video and photos may be taken only from platform areas on each side of the dais.  Senate: Credentials are not issued by the Senate. Press table seating, capitol offices and parking spaces are governed by the Capitol Press Corps bylaws.
 
 Senate: Audio feeds are available at each seat at the press table located on the floor, as well as for video cameras located on the designated platforms. Reporters are allowed the use of laptops at the press table and have access to wireless Internet service. Reporters are not allowed to conduct interviews in the chamber while in session. Reporters, if on the floor, must adhere to Senate dress code. Extra ties and jackets are on hand.
 

Montana

 

Allowed on floors of  both chambers

 

Allowed on floor in both chambers

 

Press pass required; issued by Dept. of Administration

 

No criteria for issuance of press passes

 

Nebraska

 

Allowed on floor during session

   

Administered by Clerk of Legislature

 

Full-time Capitol media can get permanent credentials; others get temporary ones

 

Nevada

 

Not allowed on floor in either chamber; press room provided

   

Press badges required to use press room

 

Can go on floor during recess in Assembly, not in Senate

 

New York

 

State Assembly allows on floor

 

Cameras must shoot from gallery

   
 

Oregon

 

Desk provided on floor against side wall

     
Oklahoma

Media Access in both the House and Senate are glassed in press areas at the back of each chamber. No floor access is allowed.

Cameras have their own glassed in area in both chambers. In both the House and Senate there are three separate glassed-in areas, one for print media, one for radio, and one for television. There is no credentialing required.

Both the House and Senate are equipped with wireless internet accessible for free by the press.

 

Pennsylvania

 

Small press row provided at back of chamber; also speaker system in capitol newsroom

   

Credentials required

 
 

Rhode Island


Media allowed on floors

 

Allowed on floors

 

None required

 

House has restricted access, Senate policy is more open

 

Tennessee

 

Reporters not allowed on H floor during session

 

Cameras can set up next to floor

   

Reporters not allowed to conduct interviews during session

 

Texas

 

Allowed on floors during session but only “outside the rings”

 

Allowed on floors during session but only “outside the rings”

 

Credentials required

 
 

Virginia

 

Allowed to sit at designated tables on floors

   

Credentialing handled by Capitol Press Corps Assoc

 
 

Washington

 

Allowed to sit at designated tables on floors.

   

Credentialing handled by Capitol Press Corps Assoc.

 

Reporters not allowed to wander on floors

 

West Virginia

 

Members of “official” news organizations allowed at designated press table on floor

   

Speaker appoints media committee to approve credentialing

 

 

 

Wyoming

 

Media tables available on floors of both chambers on first-come, first-served basis

   

Legislative Info Office issues media credentials

 

Denver Office
Tel: 303-364-7700 | Fax: 303-364-7800 | 7700 East First Place | Denver, CO 80230

 

Washington Office
Tel: 202-624-5400 | Fax: 202-737-1069 | 444 North Capitol Street, N.W., Suite 515 | Washington, D.C. 20001

Denver Office
Tel: 303-364-7700 | Fax: 303-364-7800 | 7700 East First Place | Denver, CO 80230

 

Washington Office
Tel: 202-624-5400 | Fax: 202-737-1069 | 444 North Capitol Street, N.W., Suite 515 | Washington, D.C. 20001

©2010 National Conference of State Legislatures.  All Rights Reserved. 

©2010 National Conference of State Legislatures.  All Rights Reserved.