| State |
Media Access |
Cameras |
Credentias |
Blogger/Social Journalists Credentials |
Comments |
|
Alabama
|
Constitution guarantees access to floors in both chambers; glassed-in press boxes provided
|
|
|
Bloggers/social journalists from established news organizations are given access and floor privileges. |
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. The Arkansas Senate allows chamber access to print media
|
Still cameras allowed on floor w press pass; broadcast media must use press gallery. In the Senate, broadcast media and photographers must use the gallery.
|
Press badges available from coordinator of Legislative Services. The Senate does not require reporters to wear badges.
|
The Senate has no specific policy about bloggers or social journalists.
|
|
|
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
|
|
rgeants 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”
|
MN House credentials bloggers same as traditional media.
|
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
|
Credentials given by statehouse press corps |
|
|
| North Carolina |
|
|
|
Credentials given by statehouse press corps |
|
|
Oregon
|
Desk provided on floor against side wall
|
|
Credentialing is handled by statehouse press corps |
Credentials given by statehouse press corps |
|
| 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, but press corps members oversee. |
|
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
|
No credentials offered unless blog is operated by traditional news outlet
|
|
|
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. |
Credentialing handled by 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 |
Photographers and videographers have access to side chamber doors. |
Legislative Info Office issues media credentials |
Social journalists who are employed by a commercial or non-profit news outlet providing non-partisan online news services are given credentials
|
|
|
Sources: NCSL; members of the Legislative Information and Communications (LINCS) Staff Section; TN Media Access to State Legislatures, 2007.
|