SR 5 Mississippi Senate · 2026 Regular Session

Senate Rules; amend Rules 28 and 35C to provide floor restrictions for members of the news media.

This bill amends Mississippi Senate Rules 28 and 35C to regulate media access on the Senate floor and in the gallery. It requires the Sergeant-at-Arms to clear all non-essential visitors from the Senate floor 30 minutes before sessions begin and prohibit entry for 10 minutes after sessions end. News media must have credentials issued by the Rules Committee to photograph, take notes, or record debates in the Senate gallery, while banning food, banners, or signs in both the gallery and committee rooms during sessions. The changes directly affect accredited news media and visitors, not the public or legislators.
Bill status died 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Jan 9, 2026 Last action Apr 15, 2026
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Committee
1
Jan 9, 2026
Committee
Referred To Rules
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

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P
Photo of Kevin Blackwell
Kevin Blackwell
RRepublican
MS
19