For the entire legislative session, state Sen. Mike Parson has prohibited people from using cameras or audio recorders at meetings of the Small Business, Industry and Insurance Committee he chairs.
Parson, R-Bolivar, said Wednesday that policy will change.
"Going forward and after taking into account all the new technology that provides for exciting new forms of citizen journalism," Parson explained in a news release, "we plan to allow any Missourian to perform any type of recordings during our hearings, while still reserving the right to invoke Senate Rule 96 to minimize disruptions."
That rule says: "Persons with cameras, flash cameras, lights, or other paraphernalia may be allowed to use such devices at committee meetings with the permission of the chairman as long as they do not prove disruptive to the decorum of the committee."
Parson had said throughout the year the lack of room in committee hearings was a reason for opposing the multiple tripod setups typical when cameras from several TV stations cover the same hearing or event.
He also barred individuals or representatives of interest groups from recording hearings, and had said people could get copies of recordings the Senate Communications staff made.
But the group Progress Missouri argued the Senate rule was trumped by Missouri's Sunshine Law and last month sued the Senate, Parson and Sens. Mike Kehoe and David Sater.
Like Parson, the lawsuit said Kehoe, R-Jefferson City, and Sater, R-Cassville, had rejected allowing recordings during their committee hearings - and all three senators' actions violated the Sunshine Law's provision that "a public body shall allow for the recording by audiotape, videotape, or other electronic means of any open meeting. A public body may establish guidelines regarding the manner in which such recording is conducted so as to minimize disruption to the meeting."
Judge Jon Beetem has scheduled a June 19 hearing in the case.
Senate officials said Parson's policy change didn't have any immediate effect on the court case.
Although audio recordings were allowed, Parson this week continued the no-pictures policy when the Small Business Committee heard two hours of testimony Monday on the right-to-work proposal.
Parson noted hundreds of people attended the hearing, filling two hearing rooms and spilling into the hallway.
His policy change came after lengthy internal discussions with his staff, the news release reported.
"I was surprised and pleased to see so much interest in the committee hearings from people from all across the ideological spectrum," Parson said.
Parson's policy change only affects his committee, since the Senate's rules give each chairman the latitude to run committee hearings as he, or she, sees fit.
Since the committee isn't scheduled to meet again before the session ends at 6 p.m. Friday, the policy change likely won't have any effect until next year.