MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2024 Regular Session

To: Rules

By: Senator(s) Blackwell, Younger, Chassaniol, McLendon, McCaughn

Senate Resolution 3

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 * * *, with the exception of members of the news media with proper credentials issued by the Rules Committee, 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 * * * except for members of the news media with proper credentials issued by the Rules Committee may be admitted to * * * the press table on 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.