House of Representatives

Overview:

All House floor activity is viewable on TVW or from the House gallery that overlooks the floor.

House Rule 8 specifies who is permitted into the House chamber. Individuals who wish to enter the House chamber as press must have a press pass.  To receive a House floor press pass, an individual must complete and submit the House press pass agreement. The House floor press pass agreement requires the individual provide contact information for themself and their organization. House will issue floor press passes to individuals that meet the Capitol Correspondents Association (CCA) guidelines, informed by CCA recommendations.  Guidelines are available upon request. In addition, like all visitors to the House chamber, the individual must abide by the House Rules of decorum, the Legislative Code of Conduct, and the House guidelines below. Failure to follow those expectations may result in immediate revocation of a press pass.

Generally, House floor press passes are issued for one day.  Each day pass is valid until the close of House business. Individuals may request up to five daily passes in one request.  Daily press passes will be issued the Monday of each week, at the earliest. In certain instances, hard press passes, which cover the duration of the legislative session, may be issued to an individual who regularly covers the legislative session or events on the campus and is regularly onsite during the legislative session.  A person who is not issued a hard pass may be instead issued a daily pass that align with the days they are on campus.  If an individual has already been issued a daily press pass and is seeking additional dates, they may simply email and request up to five additional dates at a time.

 The House and Senate issue their own floor press passes.  For access to the other chamber, you must contact the Senate.  

Please provide the following information:

I (insert name below) agree to follow the House rules and House guidelines when entering the House chamber with a press pass, and I understand that failure to follow them may result in my press pass being revoked and further requests denied. An individual with a House press pass must:

1. Always wear and make visible the press pass within the House chamber.
2. Always abide by House Rules and maintain decorum while in the chamber.
3. Refrain from disturbing or disrupting floor activities.
4. Adhere to the ‘business attire’ dress standard (jeans, sweatshirts, flip-flops not permitted).
5. Follow directives of the Chief Clerk, Sgt. at Arms, or their designees.
6. Conduct themselves in an unobtrusive manner that does not impede House business.
7. Refrain from bringing or carrying weapons into the House chamber; weapons are prohibited
8. Refrain from eavesdropping or recording (audio or visuals) of private conversations. If you become aware that you are able to hear a private conversation, move away from the conversation. 
9. Refrain from approaching legislators on the House floor or otherwise stepping on the House floor outside of going to and from the press tables.  If a legislator approaches a member of the press and initiates a conversation, the press member may respond.
10. Refrain from engaging in any campaign activities; such activities are prohibited in the House chamber.
11. Understand and agree that seating at the press tables in the front of the House floor is limited to a first come basis.
12. Understand and agree that press passes do not provide access to caucus media availabilities; caucuses make those determinations.
13. Understand and agree that failure to abide by House Rules, these House guidelines, and the Legislative Code of Conduct may result in immediate revocation of your press pass.
14. Understand and agree that additional rules and policies may be established as necessary by the House at any time.
15. Follow the Legislative Code of Conduct:   

The Legislature is committed to maintaining a professional and respectful environment for all members of the legislative community. As stewards of the public trust, each member of the legislative community is expected to:   

• Conduct themselves with self-awareness, self-respect, and professionalism;  
• Treat all others with respect, dignity, and civility, regardless of status or position; and  
• Refrain from engaging in hostile, intimidating, offensive, or unlawful activities or behaviors that may include discrimination, harassment, sexual harassment, or bullying. 

This Code of Conduct applies equally and at all times to all members of the legislative community, both on and off the capitol campus. 

If requesting a daily pass, please check the box below and enter the date(s) of request. Daily press passes are valid from pickup until the close of House business on the specified date. You may request up to 5 daily passes in a single application; however, passes will not be issued until the Monday of the week in which they will be used. For example, if you request a pass for a Thursday, you may pick it up beginning on the Monday of that same week. Multiple passes for the same week may be picked up together, but passes for different weeks must be picked up during their respective weeks.

If requesting a hard press pass, please check the box below. This pass is limited to individuals who primarily work on the capitol campus during session. Individuals may instead be offered a daily pass.

You will be notified of the disposition of your request via email. If you have questions, please email: HousePressPass@leg.wa.gov