The seats above the floor in the North Carolina House chamber are reopen to the public again.

The House has voted to amend its operating rules, which keeps in place most of the adjustments it approved in April to protect the health of members and the public during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The seats in the House gallery had been limited to members, reporters and sergeants-at-arms, but with Wednesday’s changes the public can sit there again. The House will continue to televise floor sessions online. The Senate already had reopened its seating gallery when it returned to normal operations in mid-May.

Visitors to the Legislative Building still are subject to temperature checks before going inside.

The House is retaining operating rules for the COVID-19 emergency that allows members to participate in committee by video conference. And representatives who aren’t present — likely due to health concerns — can cast proxy votes on floor matters.

Photo via Travis Long/The News & Observer and AP.

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