admittance to the chamber (ncsl, 2006)

8/7/2019 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.

Source: NCSL search of chamber rules, August 1999Updated: October 2006

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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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State Rule Text

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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State Rule Text

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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State Rule Text

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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State Rule Text

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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State Rule Text

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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State Rule Text

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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State Rule Text

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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State Rule Text

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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State Rule Text

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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State Rule Text

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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State Rule Text

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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State Rule Text

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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State Rule Text

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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State Rule Text

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

admittance to the chamber (ncsl, 2006)

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