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Media Access & Credentialing

A State-by-State Report

February 2008

In February, 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 Meagan Dorsch at 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
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	Don’t currently credential online publications
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
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
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