SR 8638
In CommitteeSenate
Senate rule 10
Amending Rule 10 of the Senate Permanent Rules.
This status may be delayed. See Action History below for the latest updates.
How does a bill become law?
- Introduced: The bill is filed and assigned a number.
- Committee: A subject-matter committee holds hearings, takes public testimony, and decides whether to advance the bill.
- Floor Vote: The full chamber (House or Senate) debates and votes on the bill.
- Opposite Chamber: The bill repeats the committee and floor vote process in the other chamber.
- Governor: The Governor reviews the bill and decides whether to sign or veto it.
- Signed: The bill has been signed into law.
AI Analysis
This resolution amends Senate Rule 10 to specify who may enter the Senate floor, wings, and adjacent areas during session hours. It updates access rules for elected officials, legislative staff, press, and guests—including former senators and those invited by senators—while tightening restrictions on where certain guests may go.
- Amends Senate Rule 10 to clarify who may enter the Senate floor, wings, and adjacent areas during session hours (30 minutes before convening until adjournment or a 1-hour recess).
- Explicitly includes members of the House of Representatives, the Governor, and state elected officials as admitted individuals.
- Permits former senators (who are not registered lobbyists) to be admitted.
- Allows press representatives to access the press table on the floor, but not the wings or adjacent areas—except while moving to/from the press table.
- Allows senators (or their staff) to request specific guests for admission, but only into the wings and adjacent areas of the senator’s caucus—and only if the guest is accompanied by the senator.
- Clarifies that access is limited to the time period beginning 30 minutes before convening and ending at adjournment or a recess of one hour or more.
Who is affected
- Elected state officials (e.g., Governor, Attorney General, etc.) — Members of the House of Representatives, the Governor, and other state elected officials retain access to the Senate floor, wings, and adjacent areas during sessions and for 30 minutes before convening.
- Legislative officers and employees — Legislative officers and staff continue to have access to restricted Senate areas during session hours.
- Honored guests — Honored guests (e.g., dignitaries, community leaders) may be admitted during designated times when presented to the Senate.
- Former state senators — Former state senators who are not registered lobbyists may be admitted during session hours.
- News media/press — Press representatives may sit at the press table on the floor but are restricted from the wings and adjacent areas unless moving to/from the press table.
Pro/Con Analysis
Stronger case for benefits
Potential Benefits (3)
Explicitly including the Governor, House members, and state elected officials in the list of admitted persons clarifies who is authorized to be present during session hours, reducing ambiguity and potential unauthorized access. This enhances order and predictability in the chamber.
Public SafetyRef: Rule 10(1)Permitting former senators (who are not registered lobbyists) to be admitted recognizes their continued public service role and institutional knowledge, while excluding registered lobbyists helps prevent undue influence during active sessions.
Public SafetyRef: Rule 10(4)Allowing press to access the floor (at the press table) while restricting movement to wings/adjacent areas balances press access with security and decorum—ensuring journalists can perform their duties without disrupting floor proceedings or wandering into sensitive areas.
Public SafetyRef: Rule 10(5)
Potential Concerns (3)
Restricting press access to the wings and adjacent areas—except while moving to/from the press table—limits journalists’ ability to observe and report on informal legislative activity, negotiations, and interactions that occur just outside the formal floor proceedings. This reduces transparency and public accountability, especially during high-stakes legislative moments when informal discussions often shape outcomes.
Public SafetyRef: Rule 10(5)Allowing senators (or staff) to request guests into the wings and adjacent areas of the senator’s *caucus*—but only if accompanied by the senator—creates inconsistent access depending on which senator is in power or whether a guest is personally known to a legislator. This introduces subjectivity and potential inequity in who gets access to semi-restricted legislative spaces, undermining procedural fairness.
Local GovernmentRef: Rule 10(6)While the resolution tightens access rules, it does not add new security protocols or vetting procedures—only clarifies *who* may enter, not *how* they are screened or monitored. This leaves the effectiveness of access control dependent on existing practices, which may be inconsistent or under-resourced.
Public SafetyRef: Rule 10
Who Is Most Affected
Elected officials gain formalized, unambiguous access to Senate areas during sessions, reinforcing inter-branch communication and legislative coordination. This improves efficiency but does not significantly alter their power or influence.
Press gain guaranteed access to the floor press table, supporting newsgathering, but lose flexibility to observe or report from wings/adjacent areas where informal discussions occur. This may reduce transparency in legislative negotiations.
Former senators benefit from continued access (if not lobbyists), preserving their role in civic life and legislative heritage—but only if they meet the non-lobbyist requirement, creating a modest barrier for some.
Legislative staff retain existing access, with no change in scope—this is a procedural clarification, not an expansion or restriction of their operational authority.
Honored guests retain access only when formally presented, with no change in process—this provision is largely administrative and does not meaningfully expand or restrict public participation.