Capitol Alert: AM Alert: Pomp, circumstance and a few drinks

VIDEO: Dan Walters says the move to make it easier for voters to approve parcel taxes for schools signals a move on Proposition 13.

The Capitol will be abuzz today as the Legislature convenes its new session, lawmakers take their oaths of office and lobbyists make the rounds to at least 10 different receptions in honor of the members being sworn in.

The Senate begins its ceremony at 11:45 a.m., with Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom presiding in his role as President of the Senate. Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye will administer the oath of office. After the ceremony, Senate President pro Tem Darrell Steinberg will hold a press conference, to be streamed live on CalChannel.com. The lower house begins its ceremony at noon.

Then it's time to hit the bars, restaurants and night clubs that surround the Capitol:

A reception in honor of East Bay lawmakers Sen. Mark DeSaulnier and Assembly members Nancy Skinner, Joan Buchanan, Susan Bonilla, Jim Frazier and Bill Quirk takes place at 2:30 p.m. at the Mayahuel tequila bar, 1200 K Street.

Central Valley Assembly members Kristin Olsen, Henry T. Perea, Frank Bigelow, Rudy Salas and Adam Gray will be honored at a 6:30 p.m. reception at K-Bar, 1000 K Street.

The Democratic Party of Sacramento County hosts a volunteer appreciation and swearing-in party in honor of local assemblymen Richard Pan and Ken Cooley at 6:30 p.m. at 1201 K Street in the 15th floor rotunda.

The real party animals will hit the Park Ultra Lounge (1116 15th Street) at 10 p.m., where a group of Democratic legislators who call themselves the D7 are hosting a party in celebration of the "Democratic Knockout" in this year's election. The D7 hosts are Sen. Ricardo Lara and Assembly members Luis Alejo, Nora Campos, Roger Hernandez, Ben Hueso, Henry T. Perea and Das Williams.

BILLS: But it's not all about glad-handing today. A handful of legislators are also planning to introduce bills. Assemblymen Tom Ammiano and Luis Alejo, along with Sen. Kevin De León, are holding an 11 a.m. presser to announce the reintroduction of the so-called "Trust Act." The bill, which aims to curtail the deportation of undocumented immigrants arrested for minor or non-violent offenses, was vetoed in September by Gov. Jerry Brown. Author Ammiano said in a statement that he "wanted to reintroduce this immediately because these policies have been hurting people every day."

SHE SHARES: The "She Shares" speakers series featuring conversations with Capitol women continues tonight with a talk by Jennifer Siebel Newsom, the film maker who is married to Lt. Gov. Newsom. Siebel Newsom wrote, produced and directed "Miss Representation", a documentary about media portrayals of women. She will be interviewed by Karen Breslau, a former political reporter who now works for the Dewey Square Group. The event starts at 5:30 at the California Museum, 1020 O Street. Ticket info is here.

CAKE AND CANDLES: We send best wishes to Assemblyman Donald P. Wagner, R-Irvine, for an especially festive swearing-in day as he turns 52.