admittance to the chamber (ncsl, 2006)
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Admittance to the Chamber
State Rule Text
Alabama House Rule 1 The Clerk shall on meeting days, thirty minutes before the sessionbegins, clear the floor of the House of all unauthorized persons.
The proceedings of the House shall be public but no person shall beadmitted to the floor of the House while the same is in session, exceptmembers of the Legislature, the officers and employees of the twoHouses, the Governor and his or her representative, the Lieutenant
Governor and his or her representative, legislative interns, news mediarepresentatives who shall be placed by the Clerk of the House, and otherpersons to whom the members, by unanimous vote, extend the privilegesof the floor.
The families of the members of the House shall have the privilege of thefloor on the first legislative day of any regular or special session.
When former members are admitted to the floor, they shall not engage inany lobbying activities. Former members who are either registeredlobbyists or who are employed by registered lobbyists shall not have
privileges of the floor. Former members who lobby on the floor may bebanned from the floor for the remainder of a session, subject to a
recommendation from the Internal Affairs Committee.Senate Rule 4 No person shall be admitted to the floor of the Senate Chamber while the
Senate is in session except members; former members of the Legislature,
former Governors or Lieutenant Governors, except registered lobbyists;
the officers and employees of the two houses; the employees of the
Presiding Officer; employees of the President Pro-Tem; the Governor
and his secretary and chief of staff; representatives of the press; and the
Director and employees of the Legislative Reference Service and the
Legislative Fiscal Officer. The Director of the Office of Examiners of
Public Accounts and the employees of the Legislative Fiscal Office shall
also be admitted to the floor in aid of the Senate in its work. Anyone
admitted to the floor of the Senate Chamber shall be placed by the
Secretary of the Senate. On the first legislative day of any regular,
special or organizational session, the families of the members of the
Senate shall have the privileges of the floor, but only for that specific
legislative day. This rule shall be enforced by the Secretary of the Senate
without such enforcement being suggested or requested by a member of
the Senate.
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State Rule Text
Alabama (cont'd) Senate Rule 6 No person shall be allowed to lobby in the Senate's chamber while the
Senate is in session. In the event a lobbied senator files a written
complaint with the Secretary of the Senate stating that a former
member/lobbyist has lobbied him/her while on the floor of the Senate,
the Secretary shall notify the former member/lobbyist of the complaint.
In the event a second written complaint is filed by a member against aformer member/lobbyist, said former member/lobbyist's floor privileges
shall be automatically suspended for twelve months.
Alaska Joint Rule 11 (a) Except as provided in (b) - (d) of this rule, a person who is not a
member of the house is not permitted on the floor of the house chamber
while the house is sitting or in brief recess unless that person is a member
of the other house or an officer or an employee authorized to be present
by this rule or by the presiding officer. (b) Each of the following may be
admitted to a chamber: (1) the chief clerk or secretary and members of
the staff of that officer; (2) the sergeant-at-arms and members of the staff
of the sergeant-at-arms; (3) a chaplain; (4) pages and messengers. (c) The
house, by a majority vote of the members present, or the presidingofficer of the house may admit a person to the chamber while the house
is in session or in brief recess. (d) Members of the press may be admitted
to a chamber. However, members of the press, when admitted, may use
only facilities provided at the rear of the chamber for press purposes, and
may use only the perimeter aisles of the chamber for photographic
purposes. (e) The presiding officer may extend the privilege of the floor
to former legislators and distinguished visitors for the day but not for the
purpose of discussion and debate. Only a member of the legislature may
advocate or oppose passage of a bill or resolution in the chamber of the
house while the house is in session.
Arizona House Rule 28 B. Except by unanimous consent, or unless otherwise ordered by a two-thirds vote of the members elected to the House, no person except
members, officers and employees of the House shall have the privilegeof, or be admitted to, the floor of the House Chambers at any time;
provided that the Speaker may grant the privilege of the floor, subject torevocation in any instance by order of the House, to former members ofthe House and to members of the Senate.
Senate Rule 25 A. Except by unanimous consent, or unless otherwise ordered by a two-
thirds vote of the Senate, no person except members and officers of the
Senate shall have the privileges of, or be admitted to the floor of the
Senate Chamber at any time; provided, that the President may grant the
privileges of the floor, subject to revocation in any instance by order of
the Senate, to ex-members of the Senate, members of the House of
Representatives and employees of the Senate. When the Senate is not in
formal session, the President, upon application of a Senate Committee,
may grant the use of the Chamber to such committee for a time certain
for the purpose of holding committee hearings. B. For the purpose of
addressing the membership of the Senate while in session, the President
may, upon request, approve such dignitaries as: 1. The President or past
Presidents of the United States. 2. Members of the present United States
Cabinet. 3. Ambassadors of or to the United States, and all present
United States Senators and Congressmen. 4. The present Governor of
Arizona. 5. The present Governor or Head of any other domestic or
foreign state. All other dignitaries may be introduced from the gallery or
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State Rule Text
may be granted speaking time other than when the Senate is in session.
C. The main gallery shall at all times, except when the Senate is in
closed executive session or the Senate or President shall order the
galleries cleared, be open to the public, subject to the full observance of
the rules of the Senate.
Arkansas House Rule 86 Decorum. No person other than a member of the Arkansas GeneralAssembly, designated legislative staff, or on special and certainoccasions those persons specifically invited by the Speaker of the House,shall be permitted on the Floor of the House Chamber while the House isin session or in brief recess. A pool arrangement for the media shall beestablished in the well of the House, the direction and control of whichshall be regulated by the Speaker of the House. No one in the HouseChamber other than a member of the Legislature may advocate or oppose
passage of a measure while the House is insession. No legislative aides, lobbyists or unauthorized persons shall be
permitted access to the House Floor, lounges or House support areas.This Rule shall be enforced by the Speaker of the House and/or theHouse Management Committee. The House Management Committee andthe Rules Committee shall recommend punishment to the House for
violation of this Rule. ()Arkansas Senate Rule 21 Privileges of the Floor.
21.02 Persons desiring to visit with members of the Senate shall firstsecure a written permit from the Sergeant at Arms upon instruction fromthe member desiring to be visited.21.03 Whenever any person desires to visit a member of the Senate, heshall first write his name upon a form given him, together with the nameof the member he desires to visit. Whereupon, the page of the Sergeant atArms shall deliver said form to the member desired, and the membershall then leave the Chamber and confer with said visitor, or may:(i) give to the page a written paper which shall allow the visitor to beescorted to the Senate Lounge on the East corridor adjacent to the SenateChamber, which has been set aside for use of members of the Senate inholding conferences with persons who are not members of the Senate; or
(ii) give to the page a written paper which shall allow the page to escortthe visitor to the office of the Senator located on the West corridoradjacent to the Senate Chamber, if such Senators office is locatedthereat, and to instruct the visitor to wait in the Senators office until theSenator is able to leave the Chamber. Upon conclusion of such visit, the
page shall then escort the visitor from the corridors of the Senate.21.04 No person shall be allowed to enter the Senate Chamber other thanmembers of the House of Representatives, members of a Senatorsimmediate family and authorized employees of the General Assembly,while the Senate is in session.21.05 (a) No lobbyist, including a representative of a constitutionalofficer, shall be admitted in the Senate Chamber while the Senate is insession. Any former member of the General Assembly who is registeredasa lobbyist shall be considered as a lobbyist and shall be excluded fromthe Senate Chamber while the Senate is in session.(b) A lobbyist or a family member of a lobbyist shall be prohibited fromworking for the Senate on a permanent basis (..)
California Assembly Rule
118
No person other than Members of the Legislature, officers, employees of
the Legislature, accredited members of the press, and guests may be
admitted to the floor of the Assembly during any session of the
Assembly. A guest of any Member may be admitted only upon
presentation of a guest card of the Member countersigned by the
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State Rule Text
Speaker. A guest card is valid only on the legislative day for which it is
issued. No lobbyist, as defined by Section 82039 of the Government
Code, may, under any circumstances, be admitted to the Assembly
Chamber while the Assembly is in session. Persons admitted to the
Assembly Chamber, other than Members, may not be permitted to stand
in the lobby in the rear of the Assembly Chamber while the Assembly isin session, but shall be required to occupy the seats provided for them.
Guests may be seated only in the chairs in the back of the rail in the rear
of the Assembly Chamber, and may not be permitted to sit at the desks of
the Members. No person other than an accredited newspaper
representative may be permitted to sit at the press desks. A special
section in the balcony may be reserved for those holding guest cards.
Neither any person mentioned in this rule nor any other person, except a
Member of the Legislature, may engage in influencing the passage or
defeat of legislation in the Assembly Chamber. No person other than a
Member of the Legislature, the Sergeant at Arms or his or her assistants,
the Chief Clerk or his or her assistants, or the Legislative Counsel or his
or her representatives, may be permitted in the area of the floor of the
chamber which is occupied by the desks of the Members.Senate Rule 55 (a) Persons who are not Members, officers, or employees of the Senate
shall be admitted to the Senate Chamber only as follows: 1. The
Members, officers, and assistant clerks of the Assembly. 2. The
Legislative Counsel or his or her representatives. 3. The accredited press,
radio, and television representatives. 4. Former State Senators and
Assembly Members. 5. Visitors in the chairs reserved for that purpose,
on invitation of the President or a Senator or on presentation of a pass.
(b) While the Senate is in session no person, except Members of the
Legislature, shall engage in influencing the passage or defeat of
legislation in any way in the Senate Chamber. (c) No person meeting the
definition of a lobbyist in Section 82039 of the Government Code may
be admitted to the Senate Chamber while the Senate is in session. (d)
Only Members and officers of the Senate and Assembly, former
Members of the Senate, assistant clerks of the Senate and the Assembly,
the Legislative Counsel or his or her representatives, Senate employees
for the purpose of delivering messages and when so directed by a
Member of the Senate, and members of the press who have seats
assigned to them shall be permitted on the Floor of the Senate. (e) The
Senate Chamber is the Senate Chamber proper, the adjoining hallway,
Rooms 3046, 3189, 3191, 3195, and 3196 of the Capitol Annex, and
Room 215 of the Capitol. (f) The Floor of the Senate is all of the Senate
Chamber except the adjoining hallway and the rooms listed in
subdivision (e), the visitors seating area, and the western portion of
Room 3191. (g) Notwithstanding any other provision of this rule, any
person may be admitted to the western portion of Room 3191 to attend ameeting of a Senate, Assembly, joint, or conference committee. (h)
Notwithstanding any other provision of this rule, no person may be
permitted on the Floor of the Senate while it is in session unless the
person is wearing appropriate attire. Appropriate attire includes coats and
ties for men. Accredited camerapersons, sound technicians, and
photographers are excepted from this requirement. Floor of the Senate,
for this purpose, has the same meaning set forth in subdivision (f). (i)
This rule may be suspended by a vote of two-thirds of the Members of
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State Rule Text
the Senate.
Colorado House Rule 38 In addition to members and officers and employees of the House, the
following persons shall be entitled to admittance to the floor of the
House chamber and to House committee rooms: (a) Members of the
Senate and elective officers of the state. (b) Persons exercising official
duties concerned directly with the business of the House. (c)Representatives of the press and radio. (d) Former members of the House
or Senate or former members of the House who are to address the
members of the House pursuant to Rule 26 (f) regarding a house
memorial, house joint memorial, or senate joint memorial expressing
sentiment on the death of any person who served as a member of the
House. (e) The immediate families of members. (f) Such other persons as
may be invited by members.
House Rule 39 (a) For the purposes of this Rule and Rules 40 and 41 of the House, a
lobbyist is any person defined as such in the Joint Rules of the Senate
and House of Representatives. (b) No lobbyist or member of the
Governor's staff shall be admitted to the floor of the House: (1) At any
time the House is in session, including while it is sitting as a committee
of the whole. (2) Under any circumstances prior to 12 o'clock noon ofany day the House is in session. (3) Unless the lobbyist or member of the
Governor's staff is a former member of the House who has been admitted
pursuant to Rule 38 (d). (c) A legislator shall not request a lobbyist or an
employee of the General Assembly to make donations to any type of
charitable organization. (d) A legislator shall not request an employee of
the General Assembly to make a donation to the legislator's campaign.
Senate Rule 31 (a) No person not a member of the General Assembly or an officer or
employee required to be on the floor of the Senate in the course of
legislative business, other than the judges of the district and supreme
courts, the Governor and elected state officers, members of the
congressional delegation, ex-members of the Senate, duly accredited
representatives of the state press, and such other persons as may be
invited by the President or members of the Senate and families of
members of the Senate, shall be admitted to the Senate chamber and
adjoining cloak rooms, and any such persons shall only be entitled to the
quiet and orderly occupancy of the seats provided for visitors or for
representatives of the press, and in no event to the privileges of the floor;
except that former members of the Senate may address the members of
the Senate regarding a Senate memorial, Senate joint memorial, or House
joint memorial expressing sentiment on the death of any person who
served as a member of the Senate pursuant to subsection (g) of this rule.
Persons invited by members of the Senate shall occupy the seats in the
rear of the floor of the Senate and on the sides back of the first column,
and any five Senators may demand that the Senate floor be cleared ofpersons invited by members of the Senate. Other persons shall be
admitted to the galleries of the Senate or behind the railing located at the
main entrance of the chamber. It shall be the duty of the sergeant-at-arms
to enforce this rule. The desks, materials, and papers of Senators are not
to be touched by any person other than Senate employees under the
direction of the sergeant-at-arms or the secretary of the Senate. Lobbyists
and other persons, except in official state capacity, visiting Senate
chambers are not permitted to place material upon the desks of Senators.
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State Rule Text
Delaware Code), duly designated representatives of the Governor of
Delaware, members of the House and the Senate and their staffs, staff
members from the Division of Research, representatives of each Cabinet
Department, reporters for each of the daily newspapers published in the
State, a reasonable number of other accredited correspondents as
determined by the Speaker and a reasonable number of representatives ofradio and television broadcasting stations (together with necessary
equipment) as determined by the Speaker. (b) No one other than a
member shall sit in a member's seat while the House is in session. (c) No
one shall be allowed to smoke in the House Chamber while the House is
in session.
House Rule 58 (a) A non-member speaker or guest shall be allowed to address the House
of Representatives provided they are noted on the agenda together with
the name of the Representative sponsoring said speaker or guest and the
time allotted for their remarks. (b) A speaker noted per subsection (a) of
this rule shall be granted a time limit of one minute, three minutes or five
minutes by the Speaker of the House. (c) On the day of the scheduled
address, the sponsoring member shall be recognized and shall move that
the invited speaker or guest be granted privilege to address the Houseand shall state the allotted time granted by the Speaker of the House. (d)
The Speaker of the House may grant an unlimited amount of time for the
Governor to address the House as deemed necessary by the Speaker or
the members of the House. (e) This rule is only applicable to appearances
by non-members giving remarks unrelated to agenda items and shall not
be construed so as to limit the speaking time of witnesses to legislation.
Senate Rule 23 Privilege of the Floor. (a) No person who is not a member of the Senateshall be granted the privilege of the floor, or be seated, stand or allowedto proceed in that area in front of the rear line of the last row ofmembers' seats from the rostrum, to the left of the right line of thefarthest right row of members' seats, as facing the rostrum and to theright of the left line of the farthest left row of members' seats as facing
the rostrum, while the Senate is in session except:The Governor of the State
The Secretary of the StateEx-Governors of the StateEx-Lieutenant Governors of the StateEx-Members of the General AssemblyMembers of the Congress of the United StatesEx-Members of the Congress of the United StatesMembers of the House of Representatives of the
United States; Attorneys, Officers and Employees of theSenate Attorneys, Officers and Employees of the House ofRepresentatives of the State
The staff of Legislative Council
(b) Notwithstanding anything contained in subsection (a) of this Rule,
any other person or persons may be granted the privilege of the floor, orof being seated or to stand in front of the rear line of the last row of
member seats aforesaid, by and with the consent of this body.
Florida House Rule 8.1 (a) Only present members of the House and of the Senate, andcontestants in election cases during the pendency of their cases in theHouse, shall be admitted during regular daily sessions to the Chamber ofthe House.(b) The Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, Cabinet members, Justicesof the Supreme Court, members of Congress, visiting dignitaries, official
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State Rule Text
guests, and former members of the Legislature who are not interested inany claim or directly in any bill pending before the Legislature may begranted the privilege of the floor by the House.(c) House employees may be admitted to the Chamber as determined
by the Speaker.(d) Persons granted the privilege of the floor may not lobby the memberswhile the House is in session, unless by motion granted leave to addressthe House.(e) When the House is in session, all persons in the House Chambershall be dressed in proper business attire.
Georgia Senate Rule 9-
1.5
Persons Entitled to Admission to the Senate During Session(a) No person shall be allowed to enter upon the floor of the Senate whenthe Senate is in session except:(1) Senators and officers thereof,(2) Members of the House and House officers,(3) The Governor of the State,(4) The Lieutenant Governor,(5) Staff members of the Secretary of the Senate, Clerk of the House, andthe Office of Legislative Counsel,
(6) Former Senators, except those registered as lobbyists or who arepresently employed by the State,(7) Staff members of the Office of the Lieutenant Governor, the Office ofthe President Pro Tempore, the Office of the Majority Leader, the Officerof the Minority Leader, the Senate Budget Office, the Senate ResearchOffice, and the Senate Information Office,(8) Such others as the Senate may allow upon the unanimous writtenrecommendation of the Decorum Committee.
(b) No person shall be admitted on the floor of the Senate who is
engaged in lobbying or who is attempting to influence legislation.
Idaho House Rule 68 The following persons shall be admitted to the floor of the House of
Representatives during sessions: legislators, elected state officials,
former state legislators, legislative employees and representatives of the
news media. In order to be admitted to the floor of the House, elected
state officials, former state legislators, legislative employees and
representatives of the news media shall be required to wear badges
prepared by the Chief Clerk. Any elected state official or former state
legislator must be sponsored by a legislator in order to be admitted to the
floor of the House. Any other guest of the House must be cleared through
the Speaker of the House, or persons designated by the Speaker, and
through the Sergeant at Arms, in order to be admitted to the floor of the
House.
House Rule 69 Control of Visitors to the House Floor. No person except those on
official business of the House shall be allowed inside the House
Chambers from 30 minutes prior to the convening of the House and until
10 minutes after the House is adjourned; or at any time when the House
is in recess, except as provided in Rule 68. Provided, however, that noone lobbying for or against any measure shall be permitted on the floor
of the House except by invitation of a member.
Senate Rule 46 Persons Allowed on Floor. -- (A) No one except justices and ex-justices
of the Supreme Court, judges and ex-judges of the District Court, present
and ex-state officers, members of the present and past legislatures of this
state and territory, state officers of other states, members of the United
States Congress, and duly accredited members of news media shall be
admitted to a seat upon the floor of the Senate Chamber. Introduction of
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Guests. -- (B) Only former legislators and members of the United States
Congress shall be introduced on the floor of the Senate. Members'
immediate families may be introduced in the gallery. Introductions shall
be allowed during the Fifteenth Order of Business only. Families and
Guests. -- (C) Families and special guests of the Senators and the
President shall be issued passes for seating in the gallery area designatedas "Reserved for pass holders." Employee Soliciting Vote. -- (D) Any
employee of the Senate, or of its committees, soliciting or inviting any
Senator to vote or use his influence for any bill or matter before the
Senate, shall be dismissed at once from the Senate, and shall be
dismissed at once from service and employment. Lobbying Prohibited. --
(E) No person shall be permitted to lobby for or against any bill in the
Chamber of the Senate while the Senate is in session, except when the
Senator to whom he wishes to speak shall have authorized him to do so.
Identification. -- (F) All persons permitted within the Chamber of the
Senate under the provisions of this rule shall be furnished appropriate
identification badges by the Sergeant at Arms which he may require to
be returned when the person leaves the Chamber. Removal of
Unauthorized Persons. -- (G) Any Senator may call the attention of thePresident to the fact that unauthorized persons are in the Chamber;
whereupon the President shall instruct the Sergeant at Arms to remove
the unauthorized persons immediately. Control of Visitors to Senate
Floor. -- (H) No person except those on official business of the Senate
shall be allowed inside the Senate Chamber from thirty minutes prior to
the convening of the Senate and until ten minutes after the Senate is
adjourned. While the Senate is in session, and until ten minutes after the
Senate is adjourned, no person except those on official business of the
Senate or those identified in Rule 46(A) shall be allowed in the hallways
surrounding the Senate Chamber. No person lobbying for or against any
measure shall be permitted on the floor of the Senate except by invitation
of a Senator.
House Rule 30 Access to the House Floor.(a) Except as otherwise provided in these Rules, only the following
persons shall be admitted to the House while it is in session: membersand officers of the General Assembly; elected officers of the executive
branch; justices of the Supreme Court; the designated aide to theGovernor, except as limited by the Speaker; the parliamentarian;majority staff members and minority staff members, except as limited bythe Speaker or Presiding Officer; former members, except as limited bythe Speaker or prohibited under subsection (d); and employees of theLegislative Reference Bureau, except as limited by the Speaker.Representatives of the press, while the House is in session, may haveaccess to the galleries and places allotted to them by the Speaker. No
person is entitled to the floor unless appropriately attired. Only members
of the General Assembly may use telephones at the members' desks or inthe telephone booths at the rear of the House Chamber. Smoking isprohibited on the floor of the House and in the House galleries. (b) Ondays during which the House is in session, the Doorkeeper shall clear thefloor of all persons not entitled to access to the floor 15 minutes beforethe convening time, and the Doorkeeper shall enforce all other provisionsof this Rule. (c) The Speaker may authorize the admission to the floor ofany other person, except as prohibited under subsection (d). (d). No
person who is directly or indirectly interested in defeating or promotingany pending legislative measure, if required to be registered as a
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State Rule Text
lobbyist, shall be allowed access to the floor of the House at any timeduring the session. (e) When he or she deems it necessary for the
preservation of order, the Presiding Officer may by order remove anyperson from the floor of the House. A Representative may be removedfrom the floor only under Article XI or XII of these Rules.
Illinois Senate Rule 4-3 (a) Except as otherwise provided herein, only the following persons shall
be admitted to the Senate while it is in session: members and officers of
the General Assembly; elected officers of the executive branch; justices
of the Supreme Court; the designated aide to the Governor; the
parliamentarian; majority staff members and minority staff members,
except as limited by the Presiding Officer; former Presidents of the
Senate, except as limited by the President or prohibited under subsection
(d); former members who served in the Senate at any time during the
past four years, except as limited by the President or prohibited under
subsection (d); and employees of the Legislative Reference Bureau,
except as limited by the President. Representatives of the press, while the
Senate is in session, may have access to the galleries and places allotted
to them by the President. No person shall be entitled to the floor unless
appropriately attired. (b) On days during which the Senate shall be insession, the Sergeant-at-Arms shall clear the floor of all persons not
entitled to access the floor a quarter hour before the convening time, and
he or she shall enforce all other provisions of this rule. (c) The Senate
may authorize, by motion adopted by majority vote, the admission to the
floor of any other person, except as prohibited under subsection (d). (d)
No person who is directly or indirectly interested in defeating or
promoting any pending legislative measure, if required to be registered
as a lobbyist, shall be allowed access to the floor of the Senate at any
time during the session. (e) Where he or she deems it necessary for the
preservation of order, the Presiding Officer may by order remove any
person from the floor of the Senate. A Senator may be removed from the
floor only pursuant to Rule 11-1.
Indiana House Rule 14 Only the following persons may be admitted within the hall of the Housewithout the consent of the Speaker: 1 members, officers, or employees
of the General Assembly; 2 members of the executive or judicial
branches; 3 accredited members of the news media; 4 employees of the
Legislative Services Agency; or 5 members of the public seated in the
galleries.
Senate Rule 25 c) The Doorkeeper shall whenever the Senate is convened exclude from
the Senate Chamber all persons except the President, Senators, officers
and employees of the Senate, the Parliamentarian, members of the
House, representatives of the press assigned to places on the floor of the
Senate, employees of the Legislative Services Agency, persons holding
official passes authorized by the President Pro Tempore, former
Senators, and former members of the House; provided, however, that any
person, including former Senators and former members of the House,
who is registered as a lobbyist shall not have access to the Senate
Chamber.
Kansas House Rule 501 (a) During daily sessions, from the time of convening until adjournment
to the following legislative day, only the following classes of persons
shall be admitted to the floor of the House, the cloakrooms to the east of
the house chamber and the hallway at the west of the house chamber: (1)
Members of the Legislature; (2) officers and employees of the legislative
branch who are properly identified; (3) persons having permits from the
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Speaker. (b) No person who is an officer or employee of the executive or
judicial branch of Kansas government or an employee of the federal
government shall be admitted to the area of the chamber on which
legislators' desks are located during the time the House of
Representatives is in session, except as provided by resolution, nor shall
any such person be on the floor of the House chamber during a call of theHouse. (c) No person registered with the Secretary of State as a lobbyist
shall be on the floor of the House chamber during the part of the year
that the Legislature is in session. (d) The sergeant at arms shall remove
all persons from the floor, except persons authorized under the Rules of
the House or a House resolution. (e) The provisions of this rule shall not
be construed to prevent the right of access (through the west hallway) by
persons going directly to or returning from the offices of the Speaker and
the Majority Leader.
Senate Rule 57 No person shall be admitted to the floor of the Senate except elective
state officers; members of the Legislature; friends of the members of the
Senate, upon invitation signed by the President and the Senator
extending the invitation; former members of the Senate, officers and
employees of the legislative branch, and members of the news mediawho are actually employed, and who have a card of admission from the
President. The Senate by resolution, may issue such invitations as it
desires. Persons so admitted must stay in the perimeter of the Senate
chamber except with the express permission of a member of the Senate.
No one registered with the Secretary of State as an agent or lobbyist may
be on the floor of the Senate during the hours of 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
nor at the time the Senate is in session. No person, other than a state
officer or employee of the legislative branch or legislator, shall discuss
any measure with any Senator on the floor of the Senate during the time
the Senate is in session. Any person who violates this rule or any person
who shall gain admission to the floor of the Senate by false
representation shall be forthwith ejected from the Senate chamber and
thereafter be denied admission. No employee shall lobby for or against
any measure pending in the Senate, and any employee violating this rule
shall be forthwith discharged. Former members of the Senate may be
introduced when on the floor, but no other introductions shall be made
during the session of the Senate, except the President may announce the
attendance of school students or other groups visiting the Senate.
Kentucky House Rule 71 Persons Entitled to the Floor. No person shall be permitted upon thefloor of the House when in session and two hours before and after theHouse is in session except the present members of the General Assemblyand all officers and employees of the General Assembly. Bona fide newsmedia correspondents shall be admitted to the floor when recommended
by the Committee on Committees and shall be governed by the rules ofthe House and assigned by the Committee on Committees to a media
section specifically set aside for them.A special section of the gallery shall be reserved for the families andguests of members, who shall be admitted upon presentation of anidentification card. Other persons shall be admitted to that part of thegallery not reserved for members' families. Members may submit thenames of guests to the Clerk, who shall read the names to the House.Members shall not introduce guests from the floor.
House Rule 72 Restriction of lobbying and access to the House Chambers and officeareas. No person shall engage in lobbying for or against any measurewhile the House is in session, or in recess, in any of the corridors or
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passages or in any of the rooms in that part of the Capitol assigned to theuse of the House, and no registered lobbyist shall enter that part of theCapitol while the House is in session. This rule shall not be construed to
prohibit the use of the corridors or passages in going to and from theHouse gallery by any person. A sign, poster, or any other object, the
purpose of which can be reasonably construed to indicate support oropposition to any measure before the House, and which is large enoughto be generally visible from the House floor, shall not be permitted in thegallery. Only authorized persons shall be allowed access to the officeareas assigned for use of the members and staff of the House. For the
purposes of this paragraph, "authorizedperson" means a member of the General Assembly, an employee of theGeneral Assembly or Legislative Research Commission, or a personhaving obtained specific access authorization from a member oremployee. For the purposes of this paragraph, "office areas" means thefourth floor of the Capitol and the third and fourth floors of theCapitol Annex.
Senate Rule 70 Persons Entitled to the Floor. When the Senate is in session, including
any time that the Senate has resolved itself into a committee of thewhole, and one hour before and one-half hour after no person shall bepermitted upon the floor, except the present members of the GeneralAssembly and all officers and employees of the Senateand members of the immediate family of Senators. Bona fide newsmedia correspondents shall be admitted to the floor when recommended
by the Committee on Committees and shall be governed by the rules ofthe Senate and assigned by the Committee onCommittees to a press section specifically set aside for them. The clerkof the Senate shall provide proper identification for families of Senators.The doorkeepers shall not admit these persons without properidentification. Any person may be extended the privilege of the floor byinvitation previously extended by a majority vote of members of theSenate, but that privilege shall be extended only for a specified time and
purpose. No person who shall have been extendedthe privilege of the floor for a specified time shall engage in anyactivities for or against any bill, motion or other proceeding upon thefloor of the Senate while in session. No privilege of the floor shall begranted to any registered or unregistered lobbyist or legislative agent ifthe same be known by the Senate, and it shall be the duty of anySenator having this knowledge to bring it to the attention of the Senate,and lobbying shall be grounds for revocation of this privilege.A special section of the gallery shall be reserved for the guests ofmembers, who shall be admitted upon presentation of an identificationcard. Senators may submit the names of guests to the Clerk, who shallread the names to the Senate.
House Rule 71 Restriction of lobbying and access to the Senate Chambers and officeareas. No person shall engage in lobbying for or against any measure
while the Senate is in session, or in recess, in any of the corridors orpassages or in any of the rooms in that part of the Capitol assigned to theuse of the Senate, and no registered lobbyist shall enter that part of theCapitol while the Senate is in session, including any time the Senate hasresolved itself into a committee of the whole. This rule shall not beconstrued to prohibit the use of the corridors or passages in going to andfrom the Senate galleries by any person. Only authorized persons shall
be allowed access to the office areas assigned for use of the members andstaff of the Senate. For the purposes of this paragraph, "authorized
person" means a member of the General Assembly, an employee of the
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General Assembly or Legislative Research Commission, or a personhaving obtained specific access authorization from a member oremployee. For the purposes of this paragraph, "office areas" means thefourth floor of the Capitol.
Louisiana House Rule 1.2 A. Only the members of the House and the Clerk of the House; officers
and employees of the House or of members of the House; the Secretaryof the Senate, members of the Senate and the officers and employees ofthe Senate, or of senators; the director of the Legislative Council, theLegislative Auditor, the Legislative Fiscal Officer and their employeesshall be admitted on the floor while the House is in session. The Housefloor, for purposes of these rules, is defined as that area so designated inthe diagram of the House Chamber and House floor included in this rule.B. One chair shall be permanently affixed to the floor at the desk of eachHouse member, and no other chairs shall be permitted on the floor of theHouse. C. Special permission to sit on the House floor may be granted
by the presiding officer of the House to visiting officials of other statesor of the United States or of foreign countries. D. A designated place inthe House Chamber shall be provided for the news media, who shall havefree access thereto. Accreditation of members of the press and of
members of any news media for admission shall be administered by theSpeaker of the House or he may delegate this function to the House andGovernmental Affairs Committee. No member of the press or of anynews media shall conduct any formal interview with a House member onthe House floor while the House is in session. E. Section A of theattached diagram shall be designated for use of employees of the Houseand others designated in Paragraph A hereof and, upon permission of the
presiding officer of the House, it shall be for the use of family membersand special guests of House members. F. Section B of the attacheddiagram shall be provided with seating facilities for the public and Housemembers on a first-come, first-served basis. No person shall be allowedinto this section unless there is an available seat. G. One or moresergeants at arms shall be designated to supervise Section B, and one ormore employees shall be designated to carry messages from the public in
this area to any House member with whom a consultation is desired. H.Seating facilities shall be provided for the public in the House gallery.Admittance shall be under such conditions as determined by the
presiding officer of the House. I. Only members of the House and of theSenate and legislative staff shall be admitted to the legislative lounges.
Senate Rule 1.3 A. No person shall be admitted on the Senate floor while the Senate is in
session or for thirty minutes before the time fixed for the convening of
each session or for thirty minutes after adjournment of each session.
However, members of the Senate and the Secretary, officers and
employees of the Senate or of senators, members of the House of
Representatives, the Clerk of the House, officers and employees of the
House or of members of the House, the Legislative Auditor, the
Legislative Fiscal Officer, and the employees of any of these shall beadmitted to the floor. For the purposes of these rules, the Senate floor is
defined as that area so designated in the diagram of the Senate Chamber
included at the end of this rule. B. No member of any news media shall
conduct any formal interview with a senator on the Senate floor C. One
chair, permanently affixed to the floor at the desk of each senator, and no
other chairs shall be permitted in Section A of the floor of the Senate,
except for the six chairs at the news media desks, and the chairs at the
President's desk and the Secretary's desk, the number to be determined
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by the President. D. Special permission to enter those portions of the
Senate floor designated as Sections B, C, and D, the Senate Library, the
office of the Secretary, and that portion of the floor behind the
Secretary's desk may be granted by the President to visiting officials of
other states or of the United States or of foreign E. No person shall bring
food or drink on the Senate Floor within the areas designated as SectionsA, B, C, and D on the diagram contained in the rule, of a kind or in a
manner which is disruptive of the decorum of the Senate, without special
permission of the President.
Maine House Rule 105 One-half hour before the beginning of any regularly scheduled session,
registered lobbyists are banned from the floor of the House of
Representatives.
House Rule 106 Only a member or officer of the House, a member of the Senate, the
Secretary of the Senate, the Assistant Secretary of the Senate, the
Governor, heads of state departments and bureaus, Justices of the
Supreme Judicial Court, Chaplains of the Senate and reporters of the
proceedings and debates of the House may be admitted within the
Representatives' hall, unless invited by some member of the House.
While the House is in session, only members and officers of the Houseand officers of the Senate on official business are admitted inside the
rail, except members of the press, who shall occupy places at the press
table, and guests of the Speaker.
Senate Rule 102 At no time may a registered lobbyist be at the desk of any member. A
registered lobbyist may not directly initiate communication with any
member in the Senate chamber while the Senate is in order, except that a
registered lobbyist may send a note to a member through the Senate
chamber staff requesting that the member meet with the lobbyist at the
back row of chairs in the Senate.
Maryland Senate Rule 10 (c) (1) A person, other than Members of the Senate and those persons
permitted by paragraph (2), may not be admitted to the floor of the
Senate while it is in session. (2) Except as to a person who is acting in arepresentational capacity to promote or oppose legislation during the
period of such representation, the prohibition of paragraph (1) does not
apply to: (i) The Governor of Maryland and his duly designated
representatives, and former Governors; (ii) Judges of the Court of
Appeals; (iii) Former Members of the House of Delegates and former
Members of the Senate of Maryland; (iv) Members of the House of
Delegates; (v) 1. Personnel from the office of the President of the Senate;
2. A staff person to the Majority Floor Leader; 3. A staff person to the
Minority Floor Leader; 4. The Department of Legislative Reference
Director, its amendment room staff, and its proceedings clerk; 5. The
Department of Fiscal Services Director and, during floor debate on the
budget only, fiscal analysts assigned to the Budget and Taxation
Committee; 6. The Secretary of the Senate and staff; and 7. The pagecoordinator and pages; (vi) The Chaplain; (vii) One reporter for each of
the daily newspapers published in the State, a reasonable number of other
accredited correspondents as determined by the President, a reasonable
number of representatives of radio and television broadcasting stations
(together with necessary equipment) as determined by the President; and
(viii) Other persons admitted by the President at the request of a Senator.
(3) A motion to suspend section (c) of this Rule shall be submitted in
writing to the Senate at least one day prior to the time of its
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consideration.
Michigan Senate Rule
3.902
A) A session of the Senate shall be defined, for the purposes of this rule,
as any period of time when the Senate is in session, any recess, and any
15-minute period before the Senate convenes and five minutes after it
adjourns. The Senate floor is defined as the Senate Chamber and
adjoining Rooms S212, S204 (E. Lakin Brown Room), S204A, S201 andS207. Access to the Senate floor shall be restricted as outlined below
during any session of the Senate, except that members of the public are
permitted in Room S204 when a scheduled press conference is held there
during session. 1) No person, other than the following, shall be admitted
to the Senate floor: a) Senators or Representatives b) The President of the
Senate c) The Governor d) Senators or Representatives in Congress e)
Former Michigan Legislators f) The Secretary of the Senate and his or
her support staff g) Legislative staff as authorized in guidelines issued by
the Senate Majority Leader h) One representative of the Governor i)
Members of the immediate family of a Senator or the President of the
Senate j) Registered members of the media pursuant to Rule 3.901 k) A
guest who has been invited by a Senator to offer the invocation, and an
immediate family member of that guest. 2) No registered lobbyist agent,including former Legislators, shall be allowed on the Senate floor. They
shall not be allowed in the hallway behind the Senate rostrum, unless en
route to or from the Lieutenant Governor=s Office (S215) or the Elijah
Myers Room (S208).
Minnesota House Rule 2.40 No person other than a member may be admitted to the House Chamber,
except: properly authorized employees; the Chief Executive and ex-
governors of the State of Minnesota; members of the Senate; heads of
departments of the state government; judges of the Supreme Court, Court
of Appeals, and District Courts; members of Congress; and properly
accredited representatives of radio and television stations, newspapers
and press associations, as provided for in these Rules. Any other person
may be issued a permit by the Speaker good for the day, but that person
must be seated near the Speaker's rostrum, and must not engage in
conversation that disturbs the business of the House. Before issuing a
permit, the Speaker must make certain that the person does not seek the
floor of the House to influence decisions of the House. The alcoves in the
Chambers are for the use of members only, and the Sergeant at Arms
must keep them clear of others. From one hour before the time the House
is scheduled to convene until one hour after the House adjourns for the
day, the retiring room is reserved for the exclusive use of the members
and employees of the House. As long as the Senate prohibits entry of
House members into its retiring room, no Senators may enter the House
retiring room during the time it is reserved for exclusive use of members
and employees. A committee meeting must not be held there except
emergency meetings authorized by the Speaker. The Sergeant at Armsmust strictly enforce this provision. Unless an extraordinary condition
exists the Speaker must not entertain a request to suspend this Rule or
present the request of a member for unanimous consent to suspend this
Rule.
Senate Rule 70 No person shall be admitted within the Senate Chamber, but a member,
an officer, the constitutional officers, ex-Governors of the State of
Minnesota, members of the House, judges of the trial and appellate
courts and members of Congress. Those who have been members of
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Congress or of the state Legislature who are not interested in any claim
or directly in a bill pending before the Legislature may be personally
admitted by a member of the Senate. An employee of either house may
be admitted at the request of a member or an officer of the Senate. The
head of a department of state government may be admitted by the
President. When a member-elect is sworn in, the member-elect mayrequest that one guest be admitted. When the Senate is not meeting, a
person not a member may be admitted to the floor at the request of a
member or officer. No public hearings shall be held in the Senate
Chamber. The retiring room of the Senate is reserved for the exclusive
use of the members of the Senate at all times. The Sergeant at Arms shall
strictly enforce this rule.
Mississippi House Rule 89 No person shall be entitled to enter upon the floor of the House except:
Members, their spouses, former members of the Legislature, unless said
former member is a registered lobbyist, officers and employees of the
House; members, officers and employees of the Senate; members of the
news media who have proper credentials issued by the Rules Committee;
ministers invited by the Speaker or the Clerk; and such others as theCommittee on Rules may designate. Doors between the lobby and the
cloak room, and the door between the lobby and the Hall of the House
shall be kept closed. Visitors invited and personally accompanied by
members are permitted in the lobby. The Speaker is charged with the
enforcement of this rule, and it shall be the duty of any member, officer
or employee of the House to inform the Speaker of any violation of this
rule. This rule is applicable from one (1) hour before the House convenes
each day until the House adjourns each day.
Senate Rule 28 No person shall be entitled to enter upon the floor of the Senate while in
session except the following persons: members and their immediate
families; elected state officials; former members of the Legislature,
unless the former member is a registered lobbyist; officers and
employees of the Senate; members, officers and employees of the House
of Representatives; joint legislative employees; ministers or other official
guests invited by the President on behalf of the Senate; and such others
as the Rules Committee may designate by name. The Sergeant-at-Arms
shall clear the Senate of all other visitors thirty (30) minutes before each
session convenes and shall not allow other visitors on the floor of the
Senate for ten (10) minutes after the session has recessed.
Missouri House Rule 114 No person shall be admitted to the lower gallery of the House except
members of the General Assembly, spouses of members, employees of
the General Assembly, Joint Committee staff, the Governor, the
Lieutenant Governor, the Secretary of State, the State Auditor, the State
Treasurer, the State Attorney General, Judges of the Supreme Court,
Clerk of the Supreme Court, Judges of the Courts of Appeal or CircuitCourts, Members of Congress, the Governor's Chief of Staff and former
members of the General Assembly who are not registered lobbyists or
who do not lobby for an individual or organization, and physically
disabled persons. No official or other person, except current members of
the General Assembly, otherwise allowed to enter the lower gallery by
this rule shall engage in any activity supporting or opposing any bill or
resolution before the House from the lower gallery. Other persons may
be admitted to the gallery by the Speaker upon special request of any
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Representative when the House is in session. Members of the press may
enter the lower galleries while the House is in session for the purpose of
interviewing members of the House.
House Rule 115 The gallery at the front of the chamber above the Speaker's dais shall be
reserved for members of the press having valid credentials issued by the
Speaker. All other upper galleries shall be open to the public.Senate Rule 94 No person except members of the house of representatives, former
members of the senate, the governor, the secretary of state, the state
auditor, the state treasurer, judges of the supreme court, courts of appeals
or circuit courts, attorney general and the congress, shall be admitted
within the senate chamber during the sitting of the senate, unless invited
by the senate; except that the seats at the north and south ends of the
senate chamber may be reserved for wives and families of members of
the senate, and other persons may be admitted to the senate chamber on
special request of any senator when the senate is in session. Access to the
third floor rear gallery shall be limited to senators during the hours in
which the senate is engaged in floor session. Any use of the gallery when
the senate is not in session must be approved by the Chairman of the
Committee on Administration.
Nebraska Senate Rule 2,
Sec. 3
(b) No person shall be admitted to the floor of the Legislature, as
described in this rule, except the following: (i) - Members of the
Legislature and their immediate families. (ii) - Officers and employees of
the Legislature. (iii) - Reporters of regularly accredited newspapers and
broadcasting stations. (c) With the permission of the chair, members may
invite guests to the legislative chamber to sit in those specially
designated areas located in the rear of the chamber. When exercising this
privilege, members should be sensitive to the matter under discussion on
the floor and not have guests seated within the chamber who have a
direct interest in the matter being discussed. Any member may object to
the presence of a guest within the chamber on the grounds that the guest
has an interest in the matter being debated. If the chair concurs with this
judgment, the guest shall be asked to leave the chamber. No registered
lobbyist shall be admitted to the chamber. (d) The Governor, state
officers, former legislators, and other distinguished visitors may be
admitted to the floor upon permission from the chair. (e) No one shall be
permitted to be seated beside members of the Legislature except
members of their immediate families upon permission from the chair.
When bills are being read on Final Reading, no one other than members
of the Legislature shall be permitted on the floor of the Legislature,
except for employees of the Clerk of the Legislature's office or as
provided in Section 3(h) of this rule. (f) No person, other than those
hereinbefore excepted, shall be admitted to the members' cloak room or
post office, unless accompanied by a member.
New Hampshire House Rule 17 (a) The following persons shall be admitted within the door of theRepresentatives chamber while the House is in session: House members
and officers, the Governor, Council members, Senate members, the
Secretary of State, the Treasurer, and the Senate Clerks. (b) No other
person shall be admitted within the door of the Representatives chamber
or anteroom while the House is in session, except with the permission of
the Chair.
Senate Rule 35 No person except members of the executive, or members of the House of
Representatives and its officers, shall be admitted to the floor of the
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Senate, except by the invitation of the President, or some member with
his consent.
New Mexico Senate Rule 23-2 Admission to the floor, rostrum, lounges and hallways shall be as
follows: (a) only persons who are members of the legislature or officers
and employees of the legislature having official duties directly connected
with the business of the senate, the governor and representatives of hisoffice on official business and carrying written accreditation from the
governor shall be admitted to the floor of the senate during any session
or during any recess during any session; (b) former members of the
legislature, provided they carry written accreditation of status from the
chief clerk, and special guests of the senate shall, with the president's or
president pro tempore's consent, be seated on the rostrum.
Senate Rule 23-6 No person engaged in presenting to the senate or any of its committees
any business or legislation shall be permitted to engage in such business
during sessions of the senate, or be permitted on the floor of the senate
during its sessions, and any person transgressing this rule shall be
removed from the floor of the senate and be debarred from the privileges
of the floor during the remainder of the entire session.
New York Assembly Rule 1 Assembly Chamber, lobbies, rooms and property. a. The use of theAssembly Chamber, lobbies, rooms and property shall be controlled bythe Speaker. He or she shall direct the Sergeant-at-Arms to perform suchacts as may be necessary to preserve order. b. The following personsshall be entitled to admission to the floor of the House during the sessionthereof:
1. the Governor and Lieutenant-Governor;
2. the members and former members of the Assembly andthe Senate;
3. the elected State officers and their deputies;
4. persons in the exercise of an official duty directlyconnected to the business of the House; and
5. the representatives of the news media designated by theSpeaker.
c. No other person shall be admitted to the floor during the session,except upon the permission of the Speaker or by vote of the House; and
persons so admitted shall be allowed to occupy places only in the seats inthe rear of the Assembly Chamber. Such permission may be revoked bythe Speaker, at pleasure, or upon order of the House.
d. No person shall be admitted to the floor of the Assembly Chamberwho is interested in pending or contemplated legislation, or who isemployed by or receives compensation from any public or private sourcefor influencing legislation.
e. No person other than a member shall occupy the chair of a memberduring the session of the House.
f. No person shall have access to or be permitted within or by the Clerk'sdesk during the session of the House, except officers of the House in thedischarge of their official duties.
g. The Speaker may, at pleasure, recognize a member for the purpose of
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introducing guests in the chamber.
Senate Rule 10 Sec. 2. Admission to floor. Persons not members of the Senate, orofficers or employees thereof, shall be admitted to the floor of theSenate only as follows:
a. The Governor, his or her secretary and messenger.b. The members and Clerk of the Assembly, and clerks andmessengers of the Assembly in the exercise of an officialduty directly connected with the business of the Senate.c. The elected State officers, heads of departments andtheir deputies.d. Reporters of the Senate and of the Assembly designatedunder the rules, unless a designation theretofore given themhas been revoked.e. Members of a Senator's family, or of the family of thePresident of the Senate.f. Former members of the Senate.g. Any person not hereinbefore named may be admitted to thefloor of the Senate, with the permission of the TemporaryPresident. No person shall be admitted to the floor of the
Senate who is interested in pending or contemplatedlegislation, or who is employed by or receives compensationfrom any public or private source for influencinglegislation.h. During the sessions of the Senate, no person other than aSenator shall occupy the chair of a Senator, or stand in orotherwise occupy any part of the area between the last rowof Senators' chairs on the east and west sides of theChamber, and the east and west walls thereof, respectively.All persons in the Senate Chamber shall observe proper rulesof order and decorum.i. It shall be the duty of the Sergeant at Arms strictly toenforce the provisions of this section, and it shall be inorder for any Senator to call a breach thereof to the
attention of the Presiding Officer.North Carolina House Rule 50 No person except members, officers, and employees of the General
Assembly who have been issued identification tags as provided by this
rule, and former members of the General Assembly who are not
registered under the provisions of Article 9 of Chapter 120 of the General
Statutes of North Carolina shall be allowed on the floor of the House
during its session, unless permitted by the Speaker or otherwise provided
by law. Employees of the General Assembly shall wear identification
tags, approved by the Legislative Services Officer, when on the floor of
the House.
Ohio House Rule 106 No person shall be admitted to the Hall of the House except the
Governor, members and employees of the two houses, persons charged
with any message or paper affecting the business of the House, the
authorized representatives of the press, radio, and television, and those
invited by a member with the approval of the Speaker or by the order of
the House.
Senate Rule 103 During the daily sessions of the Senate, no person shall be admitted
within the railing except members of the two houses, their officers and
employees in the performance of their duties, or persons charged with
messages or papers to the Senate; clergy, by invitation of the President;
the Governor of this or any other state; and representatives of newspapers
or legislative information services who have been granted the privileges
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of the Senate by the President. When the Senate is not in session, only
senators and their guests and officers and employees of the Senate in the
performance of their duties are permitted within the railing without the
President's permission.
Oregon House Rule
17.01
(1) When the House is in session, no person shall be permitted within the
bar except: (a) members of the Legislative Assembly; (b) floor personnelof the House; (c) one individual from the member's personal staff
employed under 15.05 or receiving credit in the intern program; or a
member of the staff of a House standing committee, statutory committee,
special committee, the majority office or minority office may be seated
at a member's desk; (d) persons authorized by the Speaker; and (e)
accredited members of the news media. (2) Courtesies of the floor may
be extended only to special dignitaries and former members of the
Legislative Assembly. However, courtesies shall not be extended to any
former member who is a lobbyist. (3) Seating in the side aisles beyond
the bar shall be reserved for the families and guests of members and such
other persons as may be authorized by the Speaker. However, the
privilege shall not be granted to any person actively engaged in seeking
the passage or defeat of any measure. (4) While the House is in dailysession, the center aisle of the floor shall be kept clear of all persons
except members and the Chief Clerk or someone acting under the Chief
Clerk's direction in conduct of the business of the House. Access to the
chambers during a daily session shall be by the side doors and side aisles.
(5) During the period beginning thirty minutes before the opening of
each session and ending thirty minutes after the session, no person shall
be permitted in the House chambers except those authorized to be in the
chambers under this rule. (6) No person who is a lobbyist as defined in
ORS 171.725 shall be permitted on the floor of the House during its daily
session. Any person violating this subsection shall be removed from the
floor and shall be denied the privilege of the floor during the remainder
of the regular or special session. (7) The Sergeant at Arms shall enforce
this rule.
Senate Rule
17.01
(1) When the Senate is in session, no person shall be permitted within the
bar except: (a) Members of the Senate (b) Desk and floor personnel of
the Senate (c) Members of the House of Representatives (d) Accredited
representatives of the news media (e)One member of the staff of the
majority office and the minority office. (f) One member of a Senator's
personal staff or a member of the staff of a Senate standing committee,
statutory committee, special committee, the majority office minority
office may be seated at a member's desk. Additional Senate staff
members are permitted on the side aisles. (2) Courtesies of the floor may
be extended only to special dignitaries, former members of the
Legislative Assembly and members of the family of a member to whom
courtesies of the floor have been extended. However, courtesies shall notbe extended to any former member who is a lobbyist. (3) No person who
is a lobbyist as defined in ORS 171.725 shall be permitted in the Senate
Chamber area during its daily session. Any person transgressing this
subsection shall be removed from the Chamber and shall be subject to
the penalties provided by law for violation of lobbying regulations. (4)
Admission to the side aisles beyond the bar shall be reserved for the
families and guests of members of the Senate, local and state-elected
officials and such other persons as may be authorized by the President.
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However, the privilege shall not be granted to any person actively
engaged in seeking the passage or defeat of any measure. (5) No food,
beverage or smoking is permitted on the side aisles or within the bar. (6)
While the Senate is in daily session, the center aisle of the floor shall be
kept clear of all persons, except members and the Secretary of the Senate
or someone acting under the direction of the Secretary of the Senate andconducting the business of the Senate. Access to the Chamber during a
daily session shall be by the side doors and side aisles. (7) Beginning 15
minutes before the opening of each session and ending 15 minutes after
the session, no person shall be permitted in the Chamber area except
those authorized to be in the Chamber under this rule.
Pennsylvania Senate Rule
XXV
1. No person shall be admitted within the Senate Chamber (galleries and
press boxes excepted) during its sessions, unless invited by the President
or a Member of the Senate, except the Members and staff authorized by
the majority and minority leader. Such authorized staff shall be restricted
to the area immediate to the majority and minority leaders? desks and
shall be allowed to advise members being interrogated only when such
member is using the microphones at the leaders' desks. Rear Entrance
Closed During Session 2. No person or persons shall, during a session, bepermitted to enter through the rear door of the Senate Chamber nor be
present in the rooms immediately to the rear of the Senate Chamber
except Senators, officers and employees expressly authorized. Telephone
Facilities 3. No person or persons other than Senators or their staff shall,
at any time, be permitted to use the telephone facilities in or adjacent to
the Senate Chamber.
Rhode Island House Rule
37(a)
(a) No person or persons, except currently elected members of the
general assembly, legislative staff and authorized representatives of the
public press, as provided in the rule next following, shall be admitted to
the floor of the house during the session thereof, except by the express
invitation of the speaker for a designated purpose. The speaker may
make special provision for admission to the floor of the House during the
session thereof for persons, who by reason of disability, are unable to
access the House galleries. All persons so admitted by the Speaker to the
floor of the House during the session thereof shall be present for the sole
purpose of observing the proceedings of the House and shall remain
seated, refrain from conversation, maintain the decorum of the House
and no such person shall contact, address, speak or gesture to, or
communicate in any way with any House member while present on the
floor of the House. Any House member who observes conduct in
violation of House Rules shall immediately notify the Speaker thereof
and the Speaker shall forthwith take appropriate corrective action and
may order the removal of the offending person. (b) During House
sessions, admission to the House lounge is limited to currently elected
House members and House staff except as to authorized representativesof the public press as provided in Rule 46. (c) Smoking shall be
prohibited in the House chamber, House galleries and committee rooms.
The Speaker shall enforce this rule.
Senate Rule 9.4 1 Lobbying. Lobbying on the floor of the senate while the senate is in
session is prohibited. 2 Credentials Required. No person without proper
credentials shall be admitted to the floor of the senate while in session,
except as follows: Current and former general officers of the state;
judges of the supreme, superior, family, district, workers' compensation
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and administrative adjudication courts; current and former senators;
current and former members of the house of representatives; employees
of the senate, the house of representatives and agencies of the general
assembly; the executive counsel and the chief administrative assistant to
the governor or their designees; the librarian of the state library;
representatives of the news media; and other persons as may bepermitted by the president and subject to such limitations and regulations
as the president may from time to time prescribe. In no event shall any
person be permitted to be seated on the floor without permission of the
majority leader and or minority leader. 3 Senators' Seats. The seat of
each senator shall be assigned by the majority leader and in no event
shall any other person be permitted to occupy such assigned seat. 4
Sheriff's Duties. It shall be the duty of the sheriff, or the sheriff's deputies
in attendance in the senate to see that rules 9.4-1, 9.4-2, 9.4-3, 9.4-5 and
9.4-9 are enforced, and that all senate entrances and exits are kept
completely clear and open to passage to and from the chamber. 5
Gallery. When the normal seating accommodations for visitors in the
gallery have been filled, no additional seats shall be installed, and no
persons shall be thereafter admitted to the gallery of the senate while insession except to fill vacancies.
South Carolina House Rule 10.1 Only the following persons shall be admitted within the House Chamber
during a session of the House unless otherwise authorized by House
Resolution. The present and former members and officers and present
employees of the House of Representatives; the members of the Press as
designated by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; the
Governor; the Lieutenant Governor; each statewide constitutional
officer; the present members, officers, and employees of the Senate; the
present employees of the Legislative Council; dignitaries and the family
of members designated by the Speaker, employees of the respective
legislative delegations; the employees of legislative caucuses; and such
persons as may be invited by order of the House; provided, no seat in the
House shall be occupied by anyone except the members thereof. No
lobbyist, including former members registered as lobbyists, shall be
admitted within the Hall without special leave of the House. No former
member seeking personal favors nor any former member who has filed as
a candidate or is a candidate for a position which is elected by the
General Assembly shall be admitted within the outer doors of the
Chamber without special leave of the House. Provided, that no member
of the Press may conduct interviews within the House Chamber while the
House is in session. Provided, that notwithstanding other provisions of
this rule, access within the outer doors of the Chamber is denied to any
former House member who has been convicted of a crime, the conviction
of which would impose a maximum penalty of imprisonment of one year
or more. This paragraph does not apply to a former House member whois reelected to either House of the General Assembly after the conviction
of the crime referred to in this paragraph.
Senate Rule 35 A. No person shall be admitted to the floor of the Senate to that area
behind the rail while the Senate is in session or in recess during a
session, except as follows, viz: immediate family members of a Senator;
Members of the House of Representatives and their Clerk and Sergeant-
at-Arms; former members of the Senate and House of Representatives
unless such former member is a lobbyist registered pursuant to the
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State Rule Text
provisions of Chapter 17 of Title 2 of the Code of Laws; a candidate or
acting on behalf of a candidate for an office elected by the General
Assembly or confirmed or elected by either the House or Senate; or a
member of the governing body or employee of any state agency or
department; the Governor and his or her Executive Secretary;
Constitutional Officers; Justices of the Supreme Court; President andVice-President of the United States; Members of Congress; Governors of
States and Territories; and such Senate staff, Senators' staff, and
Lieutenant Governor's staff, as the President of the Senate or any
Member or Officer of the Senate may see fit to invite to a seat behind the
rail. Members of the House of Representatives and former Members of
the General Assembly, not subject to the foregoing limitations shall be
allowed on the floor of the Senate inside the rail. Not less than two
hours prior to the daily convening of the Senate and while the Senate is
in session or in recess during a session no person, except those
hereinabove enumerated, shall be allowed beyond the outer doors of the
Senate antechamber. Persons not hereinabove enumerated may be
admitted only to the antechamber when accompanying a Senator, but any
such person is required to leave immediately upon conclusion of theirbusiness. The Senate Cloakroom is reserved for the exclusive use of the
Members of the Senate and their guests.
South Dakota Joint Rule 2-1 In addition to current legislators, only the following persons are entitled
to the floor of the House of Representatives or Senate during sessions:
justices of the Supreme Court or persons who are or have been Governor,
Lieutenant Governor, or members of the Congress of the United States
from South Dakota; former members of the South Dakota Legislature,
except those currently serving in any elective state or local office other
than Governor or Lieutenant Governor; current legislative employees;
and news reporters. However, these persons may not be on the floor if
acting in a manner to influence legislation. No other person may be
admitted to the floor without consent of the presiding officer.
Tennessee Senate Rule 6 The Sergeant at Arms shall admit no persons into the Senate Chamber
during the period from 30 minutes prior to the Senate convening until 30
minutes after session adjournment except members of the General
Assembly, the Chaplain of the Day, the Doctor of the Day, staff
members designated by a member of the General Assembly, and any
other persons designated by the Speaker. The representatives of the
various news media shall have access to their designated areas; all
visitors and spectators shall have access to the gallery so long as they
preserve order.
Texas House Rule 5,
Sec. 11
Only the following persons shall be entitled to the privileges of the floor
of the house when the house is in session: members of the house;
employees of the house when performing their official duties as
determined by the Committee on House Administration; members of thesenate; employees of the senate when performing their official duties; the
Governor of Texas and the governor's executive and administrative
assistant; the lieutenant governor; the secretary of state; duly accredited
reporters, photographers, correspondents, and commentators of press,
radio, and television who have complied with Sections 20(a), (b), (c),
and (d) of this rule; contestants in election cases pending before the
house; and immediate families of the members of the legislature on such
special occasions as may be determined by the Committee on House
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Administration.
House Rule 5,
Sec. 12
Only the following persons shall be admitted to the area on the floor of
the house enclosed by the railing when the house is in session: members
of the house; members of the senate; the governor; the lieutenant
governor; officers and employees of the senate and house when those
officers and employees are actually engaged in performing their officialduties as determined by the Committee on House Administration;
spouses of members of the house on such occasions as may be
determined by the Committee on House Administration; and, within the
area specifically designated for media representatives, duly accredited
reporters, photographers, correspondents, and commentators of press,
radio, and television who have complied with Sections 20(a), (b), (c),
and (d) of this rule.
House Rule, Sec.
15
No one, except the governor or a member of the legislature, who is
lobbying or working for or against any pending or prospective legislative
measure shall be permitted on the floor of the house or in the adjacent
rooms while the house is in session.
Senate Rule 2.02 Persons hereinafter named and no others shall be admitted to the floor of
the Senate while the Senate is in session provided that persons other than
members of the Lieutenant Governor's family, a Senator's family,
members of the House of Representatives of the State of Texas, and
Sergeants-at-Arms of the Senate shall be required to remain behind the
brass rail: Members of the Senate and their families, the Secretary of the
Senate and family, employees of the Senate and House of
Representatives when on official business, Representatives, the
Governor, the Governor's family and executive staff, the Lieutenant
Governor and family, the President and Vice-President of the United
States, United States Senators and members of Congress, Governors of
other states, Justices of the Supreme Court, Judges of the Court of
Criminal Appeals, the Secretary of State, and duly accredited newspaper
reporters and correspondents and radio commentators and television
camera operators and commentators who have complied with Rule 2.04.
Texas (cont'd) Senate Rule 2.02
(cont'd)
It shall be the special duty of the President to see that officers and
employees remain upon the floor of the Senate only when actually
engaged in the performance of their official duties. Such persons other
than the Lieutenant Governor and members of the Senate shall not be
permitted to work for or against any proposition before the Senate while
on the floor.
Senate Rule 2.03 (a) No newspaper reporter, or other person whosoever, whether a State
officer or not, who is lobbying or working for or against any pending or
prospective legislative measure, shall in any event be permitted upon the
floor of the Senate when the Senate is in session. (b) All officers and
employees of the Senate are prohibited from lobbying in favor of or
against any measure or proposition pending before the Senate, andshould any officer or employee violate this rule, the same shall be cause
for dismissal from the service of the Senate by the President.
Utah House Rule
33.01
(2) (a) While the House is convened in annual general session or special
session and except as provided in Subsections (b), (c), (d), and (e): (i)
only legislators, legi