Legislators can also amend bills when they reach the House or Senate floor. In both cases, amendments are adopted by a majority vote. Generally, the legislator offering the amendment will have the proposal drafted by legislative staff before offering it for discussion. Bills must have three readings, one on each of three separate days, before they can receive final approval. Each of these readings is a stage in the enactment of a measure.
Exceptions can occur, however, if the rules are suspended.
The Minnesota Constitution outlines this procedure to ensure that legislators know exactly what bills are before them, and to allow time for legislators to study the proposals. The first reading occurs when a bill author introduces a bill on the House or Senate floor, after which it is sent to a committee for consideration. The second reading occurs when either body finishes committee action on a bill and it is sent to the floor. This happens in advance of the floor debate on the bill. The third reading occurs immediately preceding the final vote on the bill.