The 107th Legislature, first session, began Wednesday, Jan.6 under different circumstances from other years.

Due to the pandemic, families of the newly-elected and re-elected senators were not allowed to sit on the floor but had to be seated in the balcony. The chief justice of the Supreme Court administered the oath to the newly-elected and re-elected senators, who remained at their seats instead of gathering up front for the swearing-in ceremony. Eight new senators took their oath, of which, three had previously served in the Legislature but were affected by term limits, requiring them to...