Category: Capitol Ideas Magazine

by Christina Gordley 

The coronavirus pandemic exacerbated health disparities, with marked differences in health outcomes linked to social, economic or environmental disadvantages observed, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The 2021 American Rescue Plan Act was designed, in part, to achieve greater equity. Guidance from the U.S. Treasury required that funds be used to address systemic public health and economic challenges that have contributed to the inequitable health and welfare impact of the pandemic on certain populations.  

CSG analysists conducted a review of the language in the state performance recovery plans that each state — so far — submitted to the U.S. Department of the Treasury to help illustrate how the states are using the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 to achieve equitable outcomes.  

Of the 36 plans available by press time (states continue to submit and publish these plans), 29 states addressed the intent and plan to achieve equitable outcomes using the state and local fiscal recovery funds. CSG analyzed the text of these submitted plans to examine the similarities in the approach and actions taken by the states.  

Nationally, the most used word in the section to describe state actions was “business,” which was used 122 times among the documents. While it may seem odd for the use of business so frequently to address inequalities in systemic barriers, states have the unique position to leverage use of incentives and procurement models to promote businesses to achieve desired outcomes in workforce equity. 

Words used nationally to address equitable outcomes by frequency are: 

1. Business 

2. Service 

3. Access 

4. Impact 

5. Economy 

6. Provide 

7. Health 

8. Pandemic 

9. Education 

10. Recovering 

Each state faces unique needs and challenges when addressing equity, and when examining the approach to equitable outcomes by region, the focus of the language in the state-submitted reports changed. For example, states in the East referenced business, service, impact and access most during their report on equitable outcomes, whereas in the West, the words most used were health, provide, house and business. 

Read more about ARP equity guidance in Capitol Ideas magazine (2021, Issue 5)

by Patrick Edwards

The U.S. Capitol riot on Jan. 6 and subsequent threats have inspired a debate over capitol security in statehouses around the country. The events of January 6 are only one example of an already tumultuous year of political violence directed at public buildings and officials. The global pandemic also led to a need for additional security measures to protect against COVID-19. To better understand how these factors have impacted states, analysts with The Council of State Governments (CSG) performed a comprehensive scan of state capitol security across all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

CSG analysts found that significant policy differences exist between states on firearms permissions, security screenings and other security measures. Most capitols restrict the open and concealed carry of firearms and use both metal detectors and X-ray machines. However, seven statehouses permit both open and concealed carry and 13 use neither metal detectors nor X-ray machines.

Findings and Analysis

As of April 27, 2021, 28 state capitols and the Wilson Building (the Washington, D.C. capitol) are closed to the public. Of these 28 state capitols, 24 explicitly state that they are closed to prevent the spread of COVID-19. At the time of this analysis, information was not publicly available for the remaining four closed capitols. However, our analysis indicates that these four capitols are also likely closed due to COVID-19. Finally, the District of Columbia Wilson Building is closed because the city council is not in session. Notably, no state capitols are closed due to threats of violence. This stands in stark contrast to the weeks following Jan. 6 when at least 19 states deployed National Guard troops to their capitols and several shut down statehouse grounds in response to the U.S. Capitol riot.

States also implemented temporary increases in security measures following the U.S. Capitol riot but later removed these as threats of violence failed to materialize. Out of the 10 states that explicitly reported that areas around their capitols were inaccessible in early January, only two — Arizona and Washington — continue to do so. This may be an undercount, as information is not publicly available for 40 states.

Similarly, 10 state capitols explicitly reported that they employed security fencing. Three of these, Minnesota, Oregon and South Carolina, left their fencing installed. As above, this may be an undercount: these 10 states are those that reported setting up and removing their fences.

 This indicates that the emphasis of capitol officials has shifted away from threats of political violence and back to the pandemic and traditional security.

34 states and Washington, D.C. prohibit the possession of firearms on capitol grounds, while 16 states permit the possession of personal firearms within their statehouses in some capacity. Citizens can use concealed carry in 14 of the 51 capitols (27%) and open carry in nine capitols (18%). Seven of the 14 capitols that permit concealed carry of firearms also allow open carry. Two states—Louisiana and Nebraska—permit open carry in their capitol complexes but prohibit concealed carry. Louisiana has no law restricting the open carry of firearms within its capitol. But while open carry is technically legal, online sources indicate that entering the capitol while brandishing a firearm will lead to arrest.

Most states prohibit the possession of firearms within their capitols, but a substantial minority do the opposite.

Another significant component of capitol security is the screening process — specifically, the use of metal detectors, X-rays, and required identification (ID).[1] Metal detectors are used to scan people (i.e., walk-through or handheld metal detectors. X-ray machines, however, scan personal items, packages, and the contents of each visitor’s pockets.

Thirty-seven capitols (37%, including the Washington D.C. city building) employ metal detectors at screening checkpoints in building entrances, and a further 31 capitols (61%), employ X-ray machines at entrances to scan all packages and personal items. Of the 18 state capitols that post their ID policy online, 10 required identification to enter their state houses.

Notably, a higher percentage of capitols that permit the open or concealed carry of firearms do not use metal detectors or X-rays compared to states that do not allow personal firearms on capitol grounds. 73% of all capitols use metal detectors, but only 50% of capitols that permit firearms use metal detectors. Similarly, 61% of all capitols use X-ray machines, but only 43% of capitols that allow personal firearms use X-ray machines. This suggests that states which permit personal firearms within their state houses may be less inclined to implement stronger security screening processes.

CSG identified several patterns between the law enforcement agencies that states entrust with protecting their capitol buildings. Twenty-one states delegate capitol security to capitol police divisions, and seven states delegate security to a division of the state’s highway patrol. Interestingly, Massachusetts delegates capitol security to park rangers in the state’s Department of Conservation and Recreation. All other states delegate security to unique subdivisions of each state’s primary police agency.

Method of Research

To conduct this research, CSG analysts gathered data from a variety of publicly available sources. Information on state capitol building firearm policy was primarily gathered from the Giffords Law Center’s Database of State Gun Laws and Michigan Advance’s Database of Capitol Building Firearm Policies. Most other data — including information on public access and security screening procedures —were gathered from statehouse websites or local news sources. This is not a comprehensive scan of all capitol security policies as some information is unavailable for most states. In particular, security measures like capitol fencing and ID requirements only reflect information that is publicly available online.

State	Closed to public	Reason Closed	Areas Blocked	Open Carry	Conceal Carry	Metal Detectors	X-Ray Machines	Security Fencing	ID Required	Security	Date Collected
Alabama	0	N/A	0	0	0	1	1	???	???	Capitol Patrol Unit	4/13/2021
Alaska	1	COV-19	???	0	0	1	0	0	1	Security: Legislative Affairs Agency	4/13/2021
Arizona	1	COV-19	1	0	0	1	1	0	0	AZ Capitol Police	4/15/2021
Arkansas	1	COV-19	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	State Capitol Police	4/14/2021
California	1	COV-19	0	0	0	1	1	0	???	CA Highway Patrol	4/15/2021
Colorado	0	N/A	0	0	0	1	1	0	0	CO State Patrol	4/13/2021
Connecticut	1	COV-19	0	0	0	1	1	???	0	CT State Capitol Police	4/15/2021
Delaware	1	COV-19	???	0	0	1	1	???	1	DE Capitol Police	4/15/2021
Washington D.C.	1	Not Sess.	???	0	0	1	1	???	???	Protective Services Division	4/15/2021
Florida	1	COV-19	???	0	0	1	1	???	???	Capitol Police	4/15/2021
Georgia	0	N/A	???	0	0	1	1	???	1	Capitol Police	4/15/2021
Hawaii	1	COV-19	0	0	0	0	0	0	???	Dept. of Public Safety’s Sheriff Div.	4/15/2021
Idaho	0	N/A	0	0	0	0	0	???	???	ID Capitol Mall Security	4/15/2021
Illinois	1	COV-19	???	0	0	1	1	???	???	Secretary of State Capitol Police	4/15/2021
Indiana	0	N/A	???	0	0	1	1	???	???	IN Capitol Police	4/15/2021
Iowa	0	N/A	???	0	1	1	1	???	???	IA State Patrol Trooper 1’s	4/26/2021
Kansas	1	COV-19	???	0	1	1	1	???	1	Capitol Police	4/20/2021
Kentucky	1	COV-19	???	1	1	1	0	???	1	KY State Police Facilities Security	4/20/2021
Louisiana	0	N/A	???	1	0	1	1	???	???	Dept. of Public Safety’s Capitol Detail	4/20/2021
Maine	1	COV-19	???	0	0	1	1	???	???	ME Bureau of Capitol Police	4/21/2021
Maryland	1	COV-19	???	0	0	1	1	???	1	MD Capitol Police	4/21/2021
Massachusetts	1	???	???	0	0	1	0	???	0	Dept. of Cons. & Rec’s Park Rangers	4/20/2021
Michigan	0	N/A	???	0	0	0	0	???	???	MI State Police	4/20/2021
Minnesota	1	???	???	0	1	0	0	1	???	Capitol Security & Executive Protection	4/26/2021
Mississippi	0	N/A	???	0	0	1	1	???	???	Capitol Police	4/21/2021
Missouri	0	N/A	???	0	1	1	1	???	0	Capitol Police	4/21/2021
Montana	0	N/A	???	0	1	0	0	???	???	MT Highway Patrol	4/21.2021
Nebraska	0	N/A	???	1	0	0	0	???	???	NE State Patrol’s Capitol Security Div.	4/21/2021
Nevada	1	COV-19	???	0	0	1	1	???	???	Nevada Capitol Police	4/21/2021
New Hampshire	0	N/A	???	1	1	0	0	???	???	State House Security	4/22/2021
New Jersey	1	COV-19	???	0	0	1	1	???	1	NJ State Police	4/22/2021
New Mexico	1	COV-19	0	1	1	0	0	0	???	NM State Police	4/22/2021
New York	1	COV-19	???	0	0	1	1	???	1	NY State Police	4/22/2021
North Carolina	1	COV-19	???	0	0	1	1	???	???	State Capitol Police	4/22/2021
North Dakota	0	N/A	???	0	0	1	1	???	0	Capitol Security	4/22/2021
Ohio	1	N/A	???	0	0	1	1	???	0	OH State Highway Patrol	4/22/2021
Oklahoma	0	N/A	???	0	0	1	1	???	???	OK Highway Patrol’s Capitol Patrol Section	4/23/2021
Oregon	1	COV-19	???	1	1	0	0	1	???	Oregon State Police	4/23/2021
Pennsylvania	0	N/A	???	0	0	1	1	???	???	Capitol Police	4/22/2021
Rhode Island	1	COV-19	???	0	1	1	1	???	???	RI Capitol Police	4/23/2021
South Carolina	0	N/A	???	0	0	1	0	1	???	State House Patrol Div.	4/23/2021
South Dakota	0	???	???	0	1	1	1	???	0	Highway Patrol’s Capitol Protective Services Div.	4/23/2021
Tennessee	0	N/A	???	0	0	1	1	???	1	Highway Patrol’s Capitol Protection Unit	4/23/2021
Texas	0	N/A	???	1	1	1	1	???	???	Dept. of Public Safety’s Capitol Region HQ	4/23/2021
Utah	0	N/A	???	1	1	0	0	???	???	Highway Patrol’s State Capitol Security	4/23/2021
Vermont	1	COV-19	???	0	0	0	0	???	???	Capitol Police Dept.	4/23/2021
Virginia	1	???	???	0	0	1	0	???	???	VA Division of Capitol Police	4/23/2021
Washington	1	COV-19	1	1	1	0	0	???	???	WA State Patrol’s Capitol Campus Detach.	4/23/2021
West Virginia	1	COV-19	???	0	0	1	1	???	???	Division of Protective Services	4/23/2021
Wisconsin	1	COV-19	???	0	0	0	0	???	???	WI State Capitol Police	4/26/2021
Wyoming	0	N/A	???	0	0	0	0	???	???	WY State Capitol Police	4/27/2021