The Utah House advanced changes Tuesday that could slightly reduce journalists’ access to members, no longer allow legislative lawyers to warn formally when bills may be unconstitutional, and allow lawmakers to call themselves into special sessions.
The House Rules Committee approved all those actions, and sent them to the full House for consideration.
That included voting 6-2 to endorse HR4. It originally proposed no longer allowing journalists onto the House floor for 45 minutes before that body convenes — a time used daily by most reporters covering the Legislature to reach and interview members. After media opposition, that period was shortened to five minutes.