"We didn't have the money," he said. Instead, the state offered local cell phone companies the option of putting up, for free, their own antennas on the State Office Building, just north of the new east and west office buildings. So far, only T-Mobile has, said Hart, and their customers should find no problems. AT&T says it will put up an antenna soon, and Verizon says it might. Other cell phone networks have not gotten back to the state on the issue, Hart said.

The new galleries sit at floor level behind thick glass, leaving one legislator to joke earlier this year, "We don't know who the monkeys will be behind the glass, us or them (the public and media)."

When the fire-marshal-approved maximum capacity of each gallery is reached (only 38 people in the Senate gallery), no more spectators will be allowed in until someone leaves.

Legislators will have to move in public access areas to go to several new hearing rooms, but House and Senate members will be able to move from their chamber/offices to their seats in at least four hearing rooms without having to meet the public.

The layout of the old Capitol required lawmakers to walk public hallways to get to their offices, chambers, meeting rooms and parking.

By the 2005 Legislature, two "high-tech" committee rooms may be equipped for TV viewing of Senate and House floor action and citizens would be allowed into those areas, relieving pressure on the galleries.