It’s the Senate’s custom to have a roll-call vote for the election of the Senate president pro-tem, and it was unanimous for Sen. Brent Hill, R-Rexburg, to continue in the post. Here, Idaho Secretary of State Ben Ysursa administers the oath of office to Hill, who is accompanied by the Senate’s minority and majority leaders, Sen. Michelle Stennett, D-Ketchum, and Sen. Bart Davis, R-Idaho Falls.

Following the oaths of office, the Senate recessed for selection of seats, which is done on the basis of seniority – meaning new Sen. Lori Den Hartog got last pick. Afterward, Davis asked every senator who had once been 35^th in seniority to raise their hand, and a fair number did, including him. The Senate has now recessed until 2 p.m., with a majority caucus meeting on tap, then some hurry-up and wait as committee assignments and chairmanships are hashed out behind closed doors.

The House, too, has gone through its seat selection and recessed, until likely around the same time, for committee and chairmanship assignments.