Media Credentials

The House is now processing requests for regular accreditation of media representatives for the 89th Legislature under the House Rules of Procedure. Applications will not be approved on the same day that they are submitted.

An application for accreditation must be approved before a media representative may be issued a pass card for admission to areas on the House floor designated for media representatives to observe House proceedings. All applications are subject to review by the Committee on House Administration. The House Business Office strongly encourages media representatives to apply for a regular pass card as soon as possible to help expedite the process. All applications are processed on a first-come, first-served basis.

A media credential is not needed to:

observe House proceedings from areas of the House gallery designated for use by the general public; or
access the House floor when it is open to the public.

An applicant is eligible for regular accreditation if the applicant:

is employed by a print, broadcast, or Internet news organization, or by a wire service serving those organizations:

whose principal business is the periodic dissemination of original news and opinion of interest to a broad segment of the public;
which has published or operated continuously for 18 months:

as a for-profit organization that is supported chiefly by advertising or subscription revenue; or
as a nonprofit organization that has qualified as a public charity under Section 501(c)(3), Internal Revenue Code of 1986; and

whose publications or operations are editorially independent of any institution, foundation, or interest group that lobbies the government or that is not principally a general news organization; and

is not engaged in any lobbying or paid advocacy, advertising, publicity, or promotion work for any individual, political party, corporation, organization, or government agency.

The procedure for accreditation and obtaining a pass card:

An applicant for accreditation must complete and submit a notarized Application for Accreditation form together with a letter, on business letterhead, from the editor, publisher, bureau chief, or supervisor of the sponsoring news organization. The letter must certify that (1) the applicant is engaged primarily in reporting the sessions of the legislature and (2) no part of the applicant's salary for legislative coverage is paid by any source other than the sponsoring news organization.
The House Business Office will review and verify all information on an Application for Accreditation. The House Business Office may request additional information from an applicant or the applicant's employer that it needs to make a determination of eligibility. Upon its determination that the application is complete and correct and that the applicant meets the criteria for regular accreditation, the applicant will be notified by e-mail of the procedure for obtaining the regular pass card.

Other Important Information:

Pass cards do not exempt the media from the security screening required to enter the Capitol.
You must comply with all building safety protocols.
The issuance of a regular pass card does not constitute a determination of your qualifications for any other purpose.
The Committee on House Administration reserves the right to investigate the information provided in the application and to deny or revoke a pass card if the Committee determines the applicant does not qualify.
The pass card should be worn and be visible at all times to gain entrance to areas on the House floor designated for media representatives to observe House proceedings.
House rules are strictly enforced and apply to everyone with access to the House floor.

Please note that the House Business Office does not provide notary services.

You may contact Ericka Tisdale in the House Business Office at 512-463-4004 for additional information or inquiries regarding this process, or you may send an email .

Release date: 12/02/2024