The state Capitol complex where Gov. Bill Richardson today makes his State of the State address will be the same Capitol where he — and, likely, the next governor — will give the speech after a legislative subcommittee put plans for an addition on hold.

Members of a subcommittee of the Legislative Council decided Monday not to press ahead with $30 million plans to add onto the existing Roundhouse.

"The need for space isn't going away," said Rep. Peter Wirth, a Santa Fe Democrat. "But it's a question of conceptually what we want to do to meet that need."

Wirth said some members of the committee wanted more time to think about the ideas for expanding the Capitol. Delaying the plans — referred to as the "Nuevo" Capitol — would also give the public time to weigh in on other possible ideas. "There was a feeling we needed to go back and revisit it," he said.

House Speaker Ben Luján, D-Nambé, worried that the discussion about the new Capitol was getting bogged down with how the addition would look. "I think there was too much concentration on the design instead of the space," he said.

Luján also said he wanted the public and lawmakers to have more time to think about the addition. "I'd like to have some public input before we make any changes to our Capitol," he said.

More meetings on the topic would likely come after this session, Luján said.

The plan currently under consideration would be built on the west side of the Capitol. The idea — created by the architectural firm Decker Perch Sabatini — would mirror the rounded side of the current Capitol, dubbed the Roundhouse for its circular shape.

Proponents say the Legislature needs more offices for staff and bigger hearing rooms for bills that draw large crowds during the session. Critics question the need to spend so much for a part-time Legislature.

Under the plan, the offices in the Capitol North annex — the most recently added part of the Roundhouse — would be moved to the Nuevo Capitol, making more room for the offices of the secretary of state and the Administrative Office of the Courts.

Wirth said the panel didn't lay out a timeline for revisiting the idea and isn't considering other conceptual designs at this point.

This year's 30-day session starts today at noon.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Contact Kate Nash at 986-3036 or knash@sfnewmexican.com.