FILE: Members of the House of Representatives work in the House chamber at the Capitol in Salt Lake City on the third day of the Utah legislative session, Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022. (Spencer Heaps/Deseret News)
(Spencer Heaps/Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY– Media will now be restricted in their access to the House floor after the Utah House of Representatives passed a rule on Tuesday.
Despite public outcry from reporters from several organizations, the rule, HR2, passed by the chamber was almost identical to the one approved by the Senate a few weeks earlier.
Previously, reporters accredited and approved by the Utah Capitol were allowed to travel to the House or Senate after a session to interview lawmakers immediately after the adjournment. However, this rule will restrict reporters’ access, requiring them to first obtain permission from the Speaker of the House or designate of the Speaker. in addition to the Capitol’s Utah media benchmark.
According to the Deseret News, Rep. James Dunnigan, the sponsor of the bill, said the rule was “not really designed to be restrictive. It’s just a continuation of what we’re already doing.
Dunnigan said while there’s no “major problem” with disruptive or intrusive media, he’s seen a few lawmakers who feel uncomfortable having cameras peeking over their shoulders.
Rules for photographers and videographers have also been addressed in the bill and must now obtain permission from a committee chair before standing behind the dais in the committee room during a meeting.
Reporters from KSL and Deseret News and others spoke out against the rule before it was approved by the Senate.
Deseret News said: “Members of the media were concerned about the resolution for two main reasons – the first being that it could prevent photographers and videographers from fully recording testimony during committee hearings, and the second that it would be difficult to ask legislators simple questions. on the floor of the Senate.
The rules are adopted by a 2/3 majority. As this is a House-specific rule, it takes effect immediately.
