MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2024 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Blackwell, Younger, Chassaniol, McLendon, McCaughn
A RESOLUTION TO AMEND SENATE RULES 28 AND 35C TO PROVIDE FLOOR RESTRICTIONS FOR MEMBERS OF THE NEWS MEDIA.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MISSISSIPPI STATE SENATE, That Senate Rule 28 is amended to read as follows:
VISITORS
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.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That Senate Rule 35C is amended to read as follows:
DECORUM
35C. No person * * * may be admitted to * * * the floor of the Senate for
the purpose of transcribing the debates and proceedings of the Senate. No person
except for news media with proper credentials issued by the Rules Committee shall
take any photograph or transcribe debates and proceedings of the Senate in the
Senate Gallery while the Senate is in session. No person shall be allowed to
consume food or display any banner or sign in the Senate Gallery while the
Senate is in session. No member of the audience shall be allowed to consume food
or display any banner or sign in Senate committee rooms while the committee
meetings are taking place.