Dinosaurs and astronauts and barn owls, oh my! A look at legislative sessions over the last 27 years
Amy Montoya, right, who works for the New Mexico Museum of Indian Arts and Culture, has her photo taken with Andrew Colwell, an educator at the New Mexico Museum of Space History, in Alamogordo, wearing a replica of the space suit Harrison Schmitt wore on the moon, and Joseph Martinez, with the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science, wearing a costume of a bistahieversor sealey. This is part of Culture Day when all divisions of the Cultural Affairs Department come together at the State Capitol, Monday, March 6, 2023. Harrison Schmitt was one of 2 astronauts from New Mexico to walk on the moon.
Eddie Moore/Albuquerque Journal
Elizabeth Tucker Elizabeth TuckerElizabeth Tucker Journal Staff Writer
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The New Mexico Legislature kicked off a 30-day session today.
This year marks the second session of the 56th Legislature.
Countless people — not to mention critters of all kinds — have attended sessions over the years.
Here's a look back.
Past legislative sessions
More Legislature News
Rep. J. Paul Taylor D-Dona Ana, explains the workings of the House of Representatives to granddaughter Rebecca Stolberg top, House Page Andrew Duran and grandson Michael Stolberg bottom during Education Day at the Legislature Monday. Jan. 27, 1997Journal File
Janelle Ortega, and her 6 month-old daughter Katharine Garcia-Ortega, of Santa Fe, take part in the anti-abortion rally held in front of the State Capitol on Monday January 22, 2007. Monday was the anniversary of Roe vs. Wade Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion.Journal File
Kandis Quam, 16, left, performs a butterfly dance with the Zuni Public School District Dance Group in the State Capitol during Culture Day on Tuesday, February 6, 2007.Journal File
Former Gov. Bill Richardson, left actress and activist Ali MacGraw and Senator Mary Jane Garcia, D-Dona Ana share a laugh after Gov. Richardson signed the New Mexico Cockfighting Ban into law on Monday March 12, 2007.Journal File
Cody Unser, left talks to fomer Gov. Bill Richardson, during a press conference on Senate Bill 23, an Embryonic Stem Cell Research bill sponsored by Senator John Ryan, R-Albuquerque on Monday January 21, 2008.Journal File
Sen. Timothy Keller speaks on the floor of the Senate before a vote of the senate for the motion to override the veto of the governor on SB 531, Monday, Feb. 8, 2010.Journal File
Santa Clara Pueblo Dancers, from left to right, Justin Naranjo, age 17, Jona Chavarria, age 20, and Jordan Naranjo, age 21, and their drummers at far right, perform a Buffalo Dance on the floor of the House at the New Mexico Legislature, Monday Jan. 30, 2012. The group was performing to both the House and the Senate who were in attendance.
The U.S. Army 44th Band of the New Mexico Army National Guard provides the music for the rotunda ceremony of 2012 Military & Veteran's Day at the Legislature, photographed on Monday February 6, 2012.Journal File
Dancers from Baile Folklorica de Santa Fe perform on the floor of the senate, photographed on Thursday February 14, 2013.Journal File
Pete Povijua, upper left and Ben Lujan, drum for an Eagle Dance performed by the Ice Mountain Dancers of Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo at the State Capitol Rotunda on Monday February 18, 2013. Monday was Rio Arriba County Day at the New Mexico State Legislature.Journal File
After a press conference extolling the Stand Up for Kindness Week, Rev. Gail Marriner, with her twins on stilts Isaac Marriner, 10, Zoe Marriner, 10, and friend Vivian Avery, 10, from left, all of Santa Fe, walk in front of the State Capital on Tuesday, January 22, 2013. Marriner, the minister at Unitarian Universalist Congregation, was one of the local faith leaders who addressed bullying prevention and supported the community-wide initiative to remember the power of kindness. Jan. 22, 2013Journal File
Former Republican Gov. Susana Martinez stands with Kendal Sanders, then-14, left, and Nathaniel Tavarez, then-13, during her State of the State address at the Roundhouse in Santa Fe on Jan. 20, 2015. The teens were victims of s school shooting in Roswell. New Mexico hasn’t had a Republican governor, or Republican-controlled House or Senate, since Martinez was governor. She left office in December 2018.(Eddie Moore
From left, Markos Romero, 7, Izayah Romero, 4, and Angelo Romero, 10, preform with their father Mario Romero, from Tesuque Pueblo, on the Senate Floor at the Roundhouse, Friday February 5, 2016. This was part of American Indian Day at the Legislature.(Eddie Moore
Dale Krantz, who works in the film industry in rigging electrics, allows Daniel "D.C." Castillas, left, and J.B. Letuli, right, co-owners of OnSet FX, in Albuquerque, to transform him into a creature of sorts during New Mexico Film Day at the Legislature in Santa Fe Monday February 8, 2016. OnSet FX, a makeup and prosthetics effects effects company, were one of dozens film related groups taking part in the event.(Eddie Moore
Travelin' Jack, an Olde English bulldog owned by Jill Lane, is the Balloon Museum Ambassa-Dog and was at the Roundhouse in Santa Fe as part of Aviation Day, Wednesday January 25, 2017. Travelin' is also dog-governor of New Mexico and a fundraiser for animal wellfare.(Eddie Moore
Nirankar Ambriz, with the Santa Fe Raptor Center, holds a barn owl named Vientosa, during a rally in the Rotunda of the Roundhouse in Santa Fe, Wedensday February 8, 2017. The rally was held by the Sierra Club and other environmental organizations as part of Land, Water and Wildlife Day at the Legislature.Eddie Moore
Dozens of students from charter schools, private schools, homeschooling and more pose for a photo outside the Roundhouse during school choice day at the Legislature in Santa Fe Monday January 23, 2017. A rally was held in the Rotunda with speeches by Lt. Gov. John Sanchez and PED Secretary Hanna Skandera.(Eddie Moore
Carl Tollander, right, and other members of Santa Fe Waidaiko, a group of traditional Japanese drummers, perform during International Day at the Legislature in Santa Fe Thuirsday March 2, 2017.(Eddie Moore
Pilar Leto, with a group from the National Hispanic Cultural Center, perform during a joint session of the House and Senate at the State Capitol in Santa Fe, Tuesday February 14, 2017. The goup was there to help celebrate Hispanic Culture Day at the New Mexico Legislature and also to promote Carnaval at the NHCC on Feb. 24 and 25.Eddie Moore
From left, Lola Martinez, 6, Giuliana Stoll Maestas, 5, Miquela Ortiz, 7, and Cosetta York, 8, with EmiarteFlamenco of Santa Fe, perform on the Senate Floor of the State Capitol in Santa Fe Monday, February 5, 2018.Eddie Moore
Vikki Jiron, left, a make-up artist from Albuquerque, turns Monique Romero, from Rio Rancho, into a Greek goddess near the Rotunda of the State Capitol in Santa Fe, Monday February 12, 2018. Jiron was one of two finalist for a make-up contest by OnSet FX, a make-up and effects company from Albuquerque. Jiron won the contest. This was part of the New Mexico Film and TV Day at the Legislature.Eddie Moore
Children from the Zuni Pueblo lead the U.S. pledge of allegiance in the Zuni language in the New Mexico state Capitol in Santa Fe, N.M., on Friday, Feb. 2, 2018. They are accompanied by Miss Zuni Puebl Kenzie Bowekaty (upper left). Head Start program teacher Rylan Chimoni helps the children learn their tribal language at an early age. The Legislature held an annual celebration of indigenous communities and culture.AP Photo
From left, Alex Hanna and his brother Adrian, both 10, and their sister Athena Hanna, 8, pose in a pair of prop shoes during a rally in the Rotunda of the State Capitol, Tuesday January 29, 2019. The rally was organized by the Sierra Club, 350 New Mexico and others and contained speeches by several legislators including Abbas Akhill, D-Albuquerque, behind them.Eddie Moore
Sen. Greg Baca, R-Belen, center, laughs with Tom Flores, left, the community maintenance director for Belen, and Belen City Councilor Frank Ortega, right, while they make carne adovada outside the Roundhouse in Santa Fe, Friday February 15, 2019. It is Valencia County Day at the legislature and Valenica County and its municipalities were feeding the legislators and others at the State Capitol.(Eddie Moore
Jerrica Vukonich, 19, a volunteer at the New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum in Las Cruces dressed in late 1800s attire for Cultural Day at the Roundhouse in Santa Fe, Monday March 4, 2019. The event had exhibits from different agencies with the Department of Cultural Affairs from around the state.Eddie Moore
Dozens of students, mostly from Santa Fe, held a die-in before a rally in support of bills to prevent gun violence in the Rotunda at the State Capitol in Santa Fe, Friday March 8, 2019 The rally was sponsored by Santa Fe Public School, New Mexicans to Prevent Gun Violence and WAVE, a student group.Eddie Moore
Dalon Hulsey, from Luna, carries a flag supporting President Donald Trump during a rally outside the State Capitol in Santa Fe, Tuesday March 12, 2019. Around 200 people and 90 horses with a group called Cowboys for Trump protested against gun regulations and other laws going through the legislature this year.Eddie Moore
Laura Marie Matthews, from Albuquerque, speaks at an event for people with disabilities in the Rotunda of the State Capitol in Santa Fe, Thursday January 23, 2020. It was disabilities awareness day at the legislature. Matthews said she has learning and physical disabilities.Eddie Moore
Former House Majority Floor Leader Sheryl Williams Stapleton, D-Albuquerque, known for her hats, wore a gem clad blue hat to the first day of the 2020 New Mexico Legislature in Santa Fe, Tuesday January 21, 2020.Eddie Moore
Abrix Varela, 12, from Nambe Pueblo, performs a hoop dance in the Rotunda of the State Capitol Thursday February 13, 2020. This was part Indigenous Women's Day at the Legislature.Eddie Moore
Rep. Patricia Lundstrom, D-Gallup, left, hugs David Abbey, director of the Legislative Finance Committee, after the state's spending bill passed the House at the Roundhouse Thursday, February 3, 2022.Eddie Moore
Sen. Katy Duhigg, D-Albuquerque, and Sen. William Soules, D-Las Cruces, talk on the Senate Floor at the Roundhouse, Tuesday, February 8, 2022. Soules and Duhigg are backing a bill to lower the cap on interest rates that can be charged on small loans.Eddie Moore
Sen. Leo Jaramillo, D-Espanola, receives ashes at the State Capitol from Deacon Steve Rangel, from San Ysidro Catholic Church in Corrales. Legislators and staff, both Catholic and none Catholic, took part in the Ash Wednesday observance at the start of Lent. Photo shot Wednesday, February 22, 2023Eddie Moore
Amy Montoya, right, who works for the New Mexico Museum of Indian Arts and Culture, has her photo taken with Andrew Colwell, an educator at the New Mexico Museum of Space History, in Alamogordo, wearing a replica of the space suit Harrison Schmitt wore on the moon, and Joseph Martinez, with the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science, wearing a costume of a bistahieversor sealey. This is part of Culture Day when all divisions of the Cultural Affairs Department come together at the State Capitol, Monday, March 6, 2023. Harrison Schmitt was one of 2 astronauts from New Mexico to walk on the moon.Eddie Moore
Joseph Martinez, with the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science, wearing a costume of a Bistahieversor sealeyi walks through the Rotunda of the Roundhouse, March 6, 2023.Eddie Moore
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, center, takes a selfie with Rep. Andrea Romero, left, D-Santa Fe, and Kristina Ortez, D-Taos, after delivering her State of the State address to a join session of the House and Senate at the Roundhouse in Santa Fe, Tuesday January 17, 2023.Eddie Moore
Sen. William Sharer, R-Farmington, take a SFPS electric bus to have lunch with kids at Ramirez Thomas Elementary School. They are considering a proposal by the Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham to provide free school meals to all students. One hundred percent of the students at Ramirez Thomas Elementary are on a free breakfast and lunch program.Eddie Moore
Michael Shinabery, with the New Mexico Museum of Space History in Alamogordo, walks through the wings of the Rotunda wearing a replica of Neil Armstrong's space suit. It is Earth Science and New Mexico Tech Day at the Legislature in Santa Fe, Monday, January 23, 2023. Due to the pandemic, this is the first time booths have been set up in the wings next to the Rotunda and people visiting them since 2020.Eddie Moore
Moises Candelaria, left, Victor Gonzales, right, and others from Los Lunas, cook carne adovada outside the Roundhouse as part of Valencia County Day at the Legislature, Monday, February 6, 2023. They provided the food for legislators first, then anyone.Eddie Moore
House Minority Leader Ryan Lane, R-Aztec, and other Republicans sit quietly as Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham delivers her State of the State speech on Tuesday in Santa Fe.Eddie Moore
Demonstrators who interrupted the State of the State address were calling for a ceasefire in Palestine and for leaders to address climate change.Eddie Moore
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, shown delivering her State of the State address to lawmakers in January, will give a prime-time speech to the Democratic National Convention on Tuesday evening. The speech is expected to focus on health care issues.Eddie Moore
With a sign language interpreter next to her, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham gives her State of the State address to members of the state House and Senate on Tuesday.Eddie Moore
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham delivers her State of the State address to a joint session of the Legislature in the House chambers at the state Capitol in Santa Fe on Tuesday, Jan. 16.Eddie Moore
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