Kansas House Debate Highlights Dispute Over Press Access in the Chamber

According to reporting from Kansas Reflector, members of the Kansas House debated changes to chamber rules that limited where journalists could work on the House floor during the 2025 legislative session. Representative Kirk Haskins of Topeka proposed an amendment aimed at restoring the longstanding press access that had previously allowed reporters to observe and report more closely from inside the chamber. During the debate, Haskins argued that maintaining transparency helps ensure Kansans stay informed about legislative decisions and protects the public’s ability to hold government accountable. The amendment ultimately did not pass after a vote in the House.

Source: Kansas Reflector – Kansas House speaker says he restricted press access to give staff better seats

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https://kansasreflector.com/2025/01/23/kansas-house-speaker-says-he-restricted-press-access-to-give-staff-better-seats/