MS Senate gathers for the first day of the 2025 legislative session
Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann gavels in the Mississippi Senate for the first day of 2025 legislative session on Jan. 7, 2025.
A resolution filed in the Mississippi Senate would restrict press access to the Senate floor and move members of the media to the chamber’s gallery to cover the news.
However, the first person to decide whether the bill lives or dies through the legislative process told the Clarion Ledger he has no intentions of bringing up the legislation.
Sen. Kevin Blackwell, R-Southaven, filed Senate Resolution No. 5 on Friday. If passed into law, it would restrict access of reporters from the Senate floor but allow them to record and report on the chamber from the Senate gallery above.
“No person may be admitted to the floor of the Senate for the purpose of transcribing the debates and proceedings of the Senate,” states Senate Resolution No. 5. “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.”
In a written response given after initially declining to comment, Blackwell said the resolution practically changed nothing about the press’ access to the Senate. Blackwell did not respond to questions about why he believes reporters should not have access to the Senate floor.
“You will have access to everything you need,” Blackwell said on Monday. “Take pictures, listen to bill presentation. Just not on the floor with us. Your use of the word restricting access is horse hockey.”
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Because the resolution would actually amend the rules of the Senate, it has been sent to the Rules Committee, chaired by Senate President Pro Tempore Dean Kirby, R-Pearl, who is second in command of the chamber behind Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann.
Kirby said he has long had good relations with the media and has no intentions of restricting floor access to news outlets. However, a long-standing but rarely enforced rule to allow only one member of a news organization on the floor at one time could be enforced.
“I personally don’t have a problem with allowing the press on the floor,” Kirby said. “Matter of fact, I appreciate the press what they do, as far as keeping their little area up there and not walking out on the floor.”
Kirby said that all news outlets must apply for floor privileges with the Senate Rules Committee before being allowed to cover the news from the floor. Not everyone gets approved.
“Some people are trying to get credentials to be on the floor that really aren’t press,” Kirby said. “They have maybe just a podcast or just whatever. They don’t really report news, and they don’t dig into facts and that kind of stuff. So everyone that applies for credentials does not get approved.”
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How would this impact the public?
The Senate has for decades allowed members of the press to record the happenings of the chamber from the floor and recognized their role in facilitating public information to voters and state residents. By restricting floor access, the Senate would effectively be blocking the public from posing questions and ensuring a transparent and accountable legislative process, said Layne Bruce, Mississippi Press Association executive director.
“We are opposed to any efforts to limit capitol access for the press who act as important conduits of information for the citizens of Mississippi,” Bruce said. “An open legislature is an accountable legislature.”
Has legislation to restrict press access been introduced before?
This is not Blackwell’s first attempt to restrict access of the press in the capitol.
In 2024, he introduced legislation to remove the press from the Mississippi State Capitol press offices on the fourth floor, which have been in place since the 1960s. Those bills also died before ever being considered by the Senate Rules Committee.
Grant McLaughlin covers state government for the Clarion Ledger. He can be reached at gmclaughlin@gannett.com or 972-571-2335.
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