NASHVILLE (AP) — The chairman of the state House Republican Caucus is defending a recent decision to hold a meeting behind closed doors.

The Tennessean reports (http://tnne.ws/2hPby6I) that Rep. Ryan Williams of Cookeville told a Tennessee Capitol Hill Press Corps delegation that he believes there's a "time and place where we have to have the ability to communicate personally with one another."

The decision to remove a reporter from a recent caucus meeting is a break with past practice and at odds with Senate rules that require all meetings to be open to the public.

Republicans hold supermajorities in both chambers, meaning they can pass legislation and prevail on procedural motions regardless of how Democrats vote.

Williams plans to hold open caucus meetings during the legislative session unless there's a vote to close them.