Maryland's newest state lawmakers, still aglow from their election victories, converged on the State House in Annapolis yesterday, affixed large name tags to their lapels and promptly got their first lesson in budget cutting. Their orientation, they were told, was being curtailed in order to save money.

Four years ago, freshman orientation was a three-day affair, followed by a six-day bus tour of the state. This time around it's down to two days, and the tour is cut in half.

So the information is tightly packed. Yesterday they learned about ethics laws they must heed, chose stationery and filled in tax forms. Today's highlights include "Legislative Process: How a Bill Becomes a Law."

Veteran lawmakers offered horse's-mouth instruction yesterday, as well. "There's no rivalry between the House and the Senate, and if you believe that, you believe in the tooth fairy," Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller told them.

In dealing with the media, House Majority Leader Maggie L. McIntosh warned: "Everything you say is on the record, even if you say it's off the record."

House Minority Leader Alfred W. Redmer Jr. strongly suggested new lawmakers not ignore their families during the sometimes grueling 90-day legislative session.

And referring to the inevitable policy fights to come, House Speaker nominee Michael E. Busch advised, "Don't take any of it personally." In closing, he added a vital point of information: "Through that door and to the left are the bathrooms."

The orientation is a chance for the new General Assembly members - 47 delegates and 12 senators (some of whom are former delegates and looked visibly bored yesterday) - to gently meet and exchange pleasantries before they are thrust into the slow-building tempest of law-making and deal-striking that typifies the session. "It's some of the best theater on earth," Redmer told them, "and you all are going to have a great seat."

But yesterday included no hint of the drama to come. Orientation organizers took pains to make the training as dignified as possible. Leading lawmakers smiled at them and spoke of nonpartisan collegiality.

At lunch time the freshmen were directed to the Senate Office Building where they sat at tables decorated with a dozen red roses and ate wild salmon fillet with Peruvian asparagus and wild rice (dessert was bread pudding with lemon sauce and chantilly cream). They were given lapel pins and miniature Maryland flags.

The new class is made up of lawyers, a shop owner, a minister, insurance brokers, educators and an airline pilot, among other professionals. Early yesterday morning they chuckled stiffly at laugh lines during speeches, but by the evening they were guffawing like old pals.

In truth, the freshmen are walking into a new era in Maryland politics, one that makes even some experienced legislators a bit jittery.

Not only will there be a new Republican governor, but a new House speaker. All four Senate committee chairmen will be new - an especially big deal in a state like Maryland, which has one of the most powerful committee systems in the nation. And then there's that giant budget shortfall to deal with.

The newcomers, though, said they were simply happy to have finally arrived. "Yeah, I'm the giant killer," said LeRoy E. Myers Jr. of Western Maryland, who defeated House Speaker Casper R. Taylor Jr. "This is humbling. But I'm ready for it. I'm a contractor."

Ana Sol Gutierrez, a Montgomery County Democrat, was proud to be the first Latina to serve in the House, she said. A freshman Latino, Del.-elect Victor Ramirez, is from Prince George's County. "We're going to form the Salvadoran caucus," Gutierrez joked.

New Republican members said they felt optimistic about their chances of actually getting something done, what with a GOP governor in charge. Among them was Pat McDonough of Middlesex. This was his first orientation, but his second tour in the House. He was elected in 1978 out of Baltimore City, but lost his seat to redistricting four years later.

The urban Democrat grew into a suburban Republican, and finally returned to the State House yesterday (thanks, again, to redistricting), where he was startled to realize that he personally knew four of the former speakers depicted in paintings hanging in the House chamber.

"The buildings all look the same. The people all look the same. Except for cell phones and computers. Back then we had beads and huts," he said. "It was so long ago, Helen Bentley was my intern."

Two new members are sons of former Baltimore County members: Michael H. Weir Jr., son of the eponymous delegate, and Eric Bromwell, son of former Sen. Thomas L. Bromwell. Another, Jon Cardin, is a nephew of former House Speaker Benjamin L. Cardin, now a congressman.

Bromwell already knew where the bathrooms were. "I've been here for 24 years, just not a lot of people knew it," said the 25-year-old with a grin on his face. "I'm just trying to take it all in. I mean, look at this. This is the State House."