February 17, 2015
New Mexico State Legislature Survival Guide
2015
For those new to visiting the New Mexico State Legislature the following is offered as a guide to enjoying your visit to the Round House.
Pastor Dewey Note: It may take more than this for me to survive Jose! They have got to pass a bill to stop killing babies! 
Parking
Parking has always been a problem in Santa Fe. The entrance of the new parking structure across Galisteo from the Capitol is accessed from Galisteo just north of Paseo de Peralta. Parking is free but the parking structure is often full during the legislative session. A small free lot can be found east of the PERA building at Paseo de Peralta and Acequia Madre.
Paid lots are available at the corner of Old Santa Fe Trail and Paseo de Peralta. We believe it costs $13.00 for all day parking. The Cathedral Parking lot at Alameda and Cathedral Place is $2.00 an hour or an all-day fee.
Some free parking on city streets is available around the Capitol but spaces are usually gone early in the day. Many metered spaces have been reserved for Round House staff. If you find a metered space, parking is limited to two hours and costs 25 cents for 15 minutes.
The Building
When you enter the Round House you are on the second floor. (The first floor houses the legislative chambers and offices below ground.) Committee meetings are generally on the third floor, one floor above ground level.
Information
The information office is to the right as you enter the building on the east side. It is a good idea to stop and pick up free information at the table or window there.
Attire
The floor of the chambers is always a formal setting, suits and ties. The gallery is populated by any number of people dressed any number of ways. The committee meetings tend to be more formal but it not a requirement.
Speaking to Committees
The public is allowed to speak to legislators in committee meetings. Less formal discussions take place in their offices and in the halls. If you plan to speak in a committee be prepared. The best presentations are sincere, factual and necessarily short.
The Committee Chair is in charge of the meeting. All communication goes through the Chair and he or she is addressed first; i.e. “Madame Chair, Members of the Committee, I am (name) and I am here to support/oppose…)
Waiting
Plan on having to wait for committee meetings! Meeting are scheduled for a specific time or a half hour after the floor session ends, but often people wait for hours for a bill to be heard.
Food
The cafeteria next to the lobby at the East entrance is very good for the price. Santa Fe can be a very expensive place to dine. The legislative/lobbyist watering-hole is the Bull Ring. Unless you have an expense account with a lot of money and a legislator in tow, it’s not recommended. The best $7.00 non-fast food burger is at El Charo, Alameda and Galisteo.
Prayer Circle
After committee meetings, we try to get everyone together for a prayer. Please join us.
Jose Vasquez New Mexico Watchman
“If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”
Matthew 21:22
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