Legislature to require masks, ban reporters from floor sessions

Alaska lawmakers will be required to wear face masks during floor sessions when they convene in January, under rules that a committee of legislative leaders adopted Monday.

The joint House-Senate Legislative Council passed a policy outlining how lawmakers will enforce new rules in response to COVID-19.

The council also voted to bar news reporters from floor sessions, as well as to require lawmakers to sit while speaking during floor sessions, to reduce the distance that virus particles could spread.

Kodiak Republican Senator Gary Stevens chairs the council. He said lawmakers have to protect the people who work for the Legislature.

Read more: https://www.alaskapublic.org/2020/12/29/legislature-to-require-masks-ban-reporters-from-floor-sessions/