KEY: stricken = old language to be removed
         underscored = new language to be added

1.1A Senate resolution
1.2adopting Permanent Rules of the Senate.
1.3BE IT RESOLVED, by the Senate of the State of Minnesota:
1.4The Permanent Rules of the Senate for the 80th Legislature shall read as follows:
1.5PERMANENT RULES OF THE SENATE
1.6 PARLIAMENTARY REFERENCE
1.71. The rules of parliamentary practice comprised in Mason's Manual of Legislative
1.8Procedure shall govern the Senate in all cases in which they are applicable, and in which they are
1.9not inconsistent with these rules and orders of the Senate and the joint rules and orders of the
1.10Senate and House of Representatives.
1.11HOUR OF CONVENING
1.122. The Senate shall convene on days of meeting at 8:30 a.m. unless the Senate directs
1.13otherwise.
1.14PRESIDENT
1.153. The President shall take the chair at the hour to which the Senate adjourned. The
1.16President shall immediately call the members to order and, on the appearance of a quorum, shall
1.17proceed with the regular order of business. The President shall preserve order and decorum, may
1.18speak on points of order in preference to members, and shall also decide all questions of order,
1.19subject to an appeal to the Senate by a member. An appeal is decided by a majority vote of those
2.1present and voting. Upon an appeal from the decision of the President, the question is, "Shall
2.2the decision of the President be the judgment of the Senate?"
2.3SUBSTITUTES FOR THE PRESIDENT
2.44. The President may call a member to preside. In the absence of the President the Chair
2.5of the Committee on Rules and Administration, or the Chair's designee, shall preside over the
2.6Senate. In the absence of the President and the Chair, a member may be selected by the Senate to
2.7perform the duties of the President. Substitutions do not extend beyond adjournment.
2.8ABSENCE OF MEMBERS
2.95. No member or officer of the Senate shall be absent from a session of the Senate unless
2.10excused by the Senate.
2.11DECORUM DURING BUSINESS
2.126. When the President puts a question, or addresses the Senate, no one shall walk out of or
2.13cross the Chamber. When a member is speaking, no one shall pass between the member speaking
2.14and the President. No member, or other person, shall proceed to or remain by the Secretary's desk
2.15while the yeas and nays are being called or counted. No member may speak without using a
2.16microphone. All remarks during debate shall be addressed to the Presiding Officer; however, a
2.17member may turn toward other members when speaking, rather than facing the Presiding Officer.
2.18ORDER OF BUSINESS
2.197. The order of business is as follows:
2.201. Petitions, letters, remonstrances.
2.212. Executive and official communications.
2.223. Messages from the House of Representatives.
2.234. First reading of House bills.
2.245. Reports of committees.
2.25(a) From standing committees.
2.26(b) From select committees.
2.276. Second reading of Senate bills.
2.287. Second reading of House bills.
3.18. Motions and Resolutions.
3.29. Calendar.
3.310. Consent Calendar.
3.411. General Orders.
3.512. Introduction and first reading of Senate bills.
3.613. Announcements of Senate interest.
3.7Under the order of business of Motions and Resolutions the Senate may by a majority vote
3.8of the whole Senate temporarily revert or proceed to any other order of business.
3.9A message from the House of Representatives that a Senate bill has been amended, and the
3.10amendment, must be printed and placed on the members' desks before a member may move to
3.11concur in the House amendment. If the amendment has been printed in the House Journal for a
3.12preceding day and is available to the members, the Journal copy may serve as the printed copy.
3.13CALENDAR
3.148. The Secretary shall make a Calendar of all bills, resolutions and other matters coming
3.15before the Senate for final action. The Secretary shall place them on the Calendar in the order in
3.16which they have been acted upon in Committee of the Whole. The Calendar shall be printed and
3.17placed upon the members' desks at least one calendar day before the matters on it are considered.
3.18CONSENT CALENDAR
3.199. If a committee determines that a bill it recommends to pass is of a routine nature or
3.20otherwise of a nature which likely will not be opposed, it may in its report recommend that the bill
3.21be placed on the Consent Calendar. If the report is adopted, the bill shall be printed and placed
3.22on the Consent Calendar after its second reading. On the question of adoption of the report the
3.23question of accepting the recommendation that the bill be placed on the Consent Calendar may be
3.24divided from the question of adopting the report in other respects.
3.25A majority of the whole Senate, or the Chair of the Committee on Rules and Administration,
3.26may order a bill on General Orders to be placed on the Consent Calendar.
3.27The Consent Calendar consists of bills placed on it. Senate bills shall be positioned ahead
3.28of House bills. The Consent Calendar shall be printed and placed on the members' desks at least
3.29one calendar day before the matters on it are considered.
4.1If a member objects to consideration of a bill on the Consent Calendar at any time during
4.2its consideration in the Senate before the question on final passage is put, and that objection is
4.3supported by at least two other members, the bill shall be referred to the Committee of the Whole,
4.4and shall be placed at the bottom of General Orders subject to Rule 11, except that it need not lie
4.5over one calendar day before consideration in the Committee of the Whole.
4.6SPECIAL ORDER
4.710. The Chair of the Committee on Rules and Administration or the Chair's designee may
4.8designate a special order for a bill that has been given its second reading.
4.9A special order shall provide that the bill be considered immediately, at a time certain,
4.10or after specific other business is completed.
4.11During consideration of a special order, Rule 20 is suspended. As nearly as applicable,
4.12debate on the bill and all proceedings including amendments and substitutions shall be that of the
4.13Committee of the Whole.
4.14On any question a member may call for the yeas and nays which shall be entered in the
4.15Journal.
4.16Unless it is otherwise disposed of, after consideration a bill on Special Orders of the Senate
4.17shall immediately proceed to its third reading and final passage.
4.18A bill may not be made a special order if the chief author has declined on three previous
4.19occasions to take the bill up after it was designated a special order.
4.20GENERAL ORDERS
4.2111. The Secretary shall make a list of all bills, resolutions, reports of committees, and
4.22other proceedings of the Senate, which are referred to the Committee of the Whole, and which
4.23are not made the order of the day, for a particular day, and number them. The lists are called
4.24the "General Orders". They shall be taken up in the order in which they are numbered unless
4.25otherwise ordered by a majority of the committee.
4.26General Orders, together with all bills included on it required to be printed under the rules
4.27or orders of the Senate, shall be printed and placed upon the members' desks at least one calendar
4.28day before being considered in Committee of the Whole.
4.29MOTIONS
5.112. When a motion is made it shall be stated by the President. If it is in writing it shall be
5.2handed to the Secretary and read to the members.
5.313. A motion or amendment shall be written if the President or a member requests. In that
5.4case it must identify the member or committee offering it.
5.514. After a motion is stated by the President, or read by the Secretary, it is in possession of
5.6the Senate, but may be withdrawn by the author at any time before decision or amendment.
5.7PRECEDENCE OF MOTIONS
5.815. When a question is under debate no motion shall be received, except:
5.91. To adjourn.
5.102. To recess.
5.113. To reconsider.
5.124. To lay on the table.
5.135. For the previous question.
5.14(Motions numbered 1, 2, 4 and 5 above shall be decided without debate.)
5.156. To refer.
5.167. To postpone to a day certain.
5.178. To amend.
5.189. To postpone indefinitely.
5.19These several motions have precedence in the foregoing order; but when a motion for
5.20the previous question has been seconded, or the main question ordered, a motion to lay on the
5.21table is not in order.
5.22A motion to postpone to a day certain, to refer, to postpone indefinitely, or to amend,
5.23having been decided, shall not again be put on the same day, nor at the same stage of the bill
5.24or proposition.
5.25MOTION TO ADJOURN
6.116. A motion to adjourn is always in order, and also a motion to adjourn to a time certain.
6.2The latter motion is debatable solely as to the time. When either motion is rejected it shall not be
6.3renewed until further business has been transacted.
6.4AMENDMENTS TO RULES AND SUSPENSION OF RULES
6.517. Every proposition to amend a rule of the Senate shall be referred to the Committee
6.6on Rules and Administration. The proposition shall not be acted upon until the report of the
6.7committee is received by the Senate. A rule shall not be suspended except by at least two-thirds
6.8vote of the whole Senate. A motion to suspend the rules for the purpose of advancing a bill shall
6.9be made only under the order of business, "Motions and Resolutions".
6.10ORDER IN DEBATE
6.1118. When a member is about to speak in debate, or deliver a matter to the Senate, the
6.12member shall rise and respectfully address "Mr. (or Madam) President". The member shall not
6.13proceed to speak further until recognized by the President. The member shall speak only to
6.14the question under debate and avoid personality. The member may inform the Senate of the
6.15Governor's position on a bill and on its status in the House of Representatives. In discussing a
6.16resolution, each member is limited to ten minutes.
6.1719. When a member is called to order, the member shall be silent until it is determined
6.18whether or not the member is in order. If a member is called to order for words spoken in debate,
6.19the words excepted to shall be taken down in writing by the Secretary immediately.
6.2020. No member shall speak more than twice on the same question on the same day without
6.21leave of the Senate.
6.22COMMITTEES NOT TO BE ABSENT
6.2321. Committees shall not be absent from the Senate without permission of the Senate. The
6.24names of the members excused shall be printed in the Journal.
6.25MEMBERS TO VOTE UNLESS EXCUSED
6.2622. Every member who is in the Senate Chamber during a roll call shall vote upon the
6.27request of another member unless, for special reasons, excused by the Senate.
6.28A motion by a member to be excused from voting shall be made before the question is put.
6.29A member wishing to be excused from voting may make a brief statement of the reason for
6.30making the request and the question on the motion shall be taken without further debate.
7.1When members have had an opportunity to vote and fail to do so, a majority of all the
7.2members of the Senate may, by motion, direct the President to close the roll. The vote on a motion
7.3to close the roll shall be taken without debate and no member is required to vote on the motion.
7.4CALL OF THE SENATE
7.523. A member may impose a call of the Senate requiring the attendance of all members
7.6before any further proceedings occur except a motion to adjourn. Upon the imposition of a call, a
7.7record of those present shall be obtained upon the request of any member, and the Sergeant at
7.8Arms instructed to bring in the absent members. When the Senate has been placed under call, a
7.9member may demand that the doors be closed and no member permitted to leave the Chamber
7.10until the matter or question, if any, under consideration at the time of the call is disposed of, or
7.11until the call is lifted by a majority vote of all the members of the Senate, or until the Senate
7.12adjourns. A majority vote of all the members of the Senate may excuse from attendance members
7.13not answering the call.
7.14A call cannot be made after voting has commenced.
7.15QUESTIONS--HOW STATED AND DECIDED
7.1624. Questions shall be distinctly put. The President shall declare all votes but if a member
7.17rises to question a vote, the President shall order a division.
7.18ONLY MEMBERS PRESENT TO VOTE
7.1925. Upon a division and count of the Senate on a question, only members present in the
7.20Senate Chamber shall be counted. No member may vote on a question except at the member's
7.21own seat in the Chamber.
7.22ANY MEMBER MAY DEMAND YEAS AND NAYS
7.2326. At any time prior to the start of voting on a question, a member may call for the yeas
7.24and nays which shall be entered in the Journal. A call for the yeas and nays cannot be interrupted
7.25except as provided in Rule 22.
7.26AUTHORIZED ELECTRICAL VOTING DEVICE
7.2727. Unless otherwise ordered, a vote, except upon elections, may be taken by means of the
7.28electrical voting system which is under the control of the President.
7.29CERTIFICATE FOR MONEY
8.128. No certificate authorizing the payment of money appropriated by the Legislature shall
8.2be issued by the Secretary by virtue of a motion or resolution, unless the motion or resolution is
8.3voted for by a majority of all members of the Senate upon a call of the yeas and nays.
8.4THE PREVIOUS QUESTION
8.529. Unless the motion for the previous question is made specifically applicable to a
8.6subsidiary motion, the previous question shall be in this form:
8.7"Shall the main question now be put?" It shall only be admitted when demanded by a
8.8majority of the members present, and its effect is to put an end to all debate, and bring the
8.9Senate to a direct vote upon amendments reported by a committee, if any, then upon all pending
8.10amendments in their order and then upon the main question.
8.11On a motion for the previous question a call of the Senate is in order before the President
8.12submits the question to the Senate.
8.13On a previous question there is no debate. All incidental questions of order, arising after a
8.14motion is made for the previous question, and pending the motion, shall be decided, whether on
8.15appeal or otherwise, without debate.
8.16DIVISION OF QUESTION
8.1730. A member may call for a division of the question when the question will admit of it. A
8.18motion to strike out and insert is indivisible. A motion to strike out being lost does not preclude
8.19an amendment nor a motion to strike out and insert.
8.20RECONSIDERATION
8.2131. When a motion or question has been once put and carried in the affirmative or negative,
8.22it is in order for a member who voted with the prevailing side to move for reconsideration on
8.23the same day on which the vote was taken or within the next two calendar days or, if later, the
8.24first day the Senate meets after the vote was taken. The motion takes precedence over all other
8.25questions except a motion to adjourn or recess. When a motion to adjourn is adopted prior to
8.26the disposition of the motion for reconsideration, a motion for reconsideration shall lie over
8.27until the next succeeding day the Senate meets except as provided in this rule. When notice of
8.28intention to move reconsideration of the final action of the Senate on a question is given by a
8.29member, the Secretary shall retain the subject of the notice until after the expiration of the time
8.30during which the motion can be made.
9.1During the six calendar days before the first Tuesday following the third Saturday in May
9.2of any year a notice of intention to move for reconsideration is not in order, but a motion to
9.3reconsider may be made and have priority over all other business except a motion to adjourn. A
9.4motion for reconsideration having been once voted on shall not be put again nor reconsidered.
9.5INTRODUCTION OF BILLS
9.632. Bills, memorials, concurrent or joint resolutions may be introduced by a member or
9.7by order of the Senate on a report of a committee. An original and three copies are required for
9.8introduction. The number of authors shall not exceed five. A member or a committee desiring
9.9to introduce a bill, memorial or concurrent or joint resolution shall place it in the hands of the
9.10Secretary, and the Secretary shall promptly deliver all the bills, memorials or concurrent or joint
9.11resolutions to the President who shall present them to the Senate.
9.12The name of the author or authors shall be prefixed to each bill, memorial or resolution and
9.13the name of a committee introducing a bill, memorial or resolution shall be endorsed on it.
9.14A bill prepared by a department or agency of state government shall be introduced and
9.15given its first reading three weeks before the first committee deadline in odd-numbered years and
9.16two weeks before the first committee deadline in even numbered years. Upon its introduction, the
9.17first author of the bill shall deliver a copy of the fiscal note on the bill to the chair of the standing
9.18committee to which the bill has been referred.
9.19RECESS BILL INTRODUCTIONS
9.2033. During the period between the last day of the session in any odd-numbered year and the
9.21first day of the session in the following year, a bill filed with the Secretary for introduction shall
9.22be given a file number and may be unofficially referred by the President, with the approval of
9.23the Chair of the Committee on Rules and Administration, to an appropriate standing committee
9.24of the Senate. All bills filed for introduction during this period shall be presented to the Senate
9.25when it reconvenes and shall be referred to the standing committees previously indicated by the
9.26President, subject to objection under Rule 35.
9.27REPORTING OF BILLS
9.2834. Every bill, memorial, order, resolution or vote requiring the approval of the Governor
9.29shall be reported to the Senate on three different days previous to its passage. The first report,
9.30called the first reading, is made when it has been received for introduction; the second report,
9.31called the second reading, is made when it has been considered by all the necessary standing
10.1committees and is ready for debate; the third report, called the third reading, is made when it
10.2is ready for final passage.
10.3REFERRING OF BILLS
10.435. All bills shall be referred by the President without motion to the proper standing
10.5committee unless otherwise referred by the Senate. A bill introduced by a committee need not
10.6be referred to a standing committee unless a question arises but rather shall lie over one day
10.7before being given its second reading. When a question arises concerning the proper reference
10.8of a bill during the order of business of first reading on the day of introduction or at the time of
10.9report on it by a standing committee to which the bill was previously referred, the bill shall
10.10be referred without debate to the Committee on Rules and Administration to report the proper
10.11reference, and upon adoption of the report of the Committee on Rules and Administration, it
10.12shall be referred accordingly.
10.13All bills appropriating money, or obligating the state to pay or expend money, or
10.14establishing a policy which to be effective will require expenditure of money, when referred to
10.15and reported by any other than a committee on finance, shall, before passage, be referred to a
10.16committee on finance.
10.17All bills delegating rulemaking to a department or agency of state government and all bills
10.18exempting a department or agency of state government from rulemaking, when referred to and
10.19reported by any other than the Committee on Governmental Operations and Veterans, shall,
10.20before passage, be referred to the Committee on Governmental Operations and Veterans.
10.21All bills creating a new commission, council, task force, board, or other body to which
10.22a member of the legislature will be appointed shall, before passage, be referred both to the
10.23Committee on Governmental Operations and Veterans and to the Committee on Rules and
10.24Administration.
10.25All bills authorizing or increasing a sentence of imprisonment to a state correctional
10.26institution shall be referred before passage to the Committee on Crime Prevention.
10.27Upon request of the chair of a budget division of a policy committee, the chair of the policy
10.28committee shall refer a bill in that committee to the division.
10.2936. No bill or resolution shall be referred to committee or amended until it has been given
10.30its first reading. No bill or resolution shall be objected to on its introduction.
10.31AMENDMENTS TO BE GERMANE
11.137. An amendment proposed to the Senate or to the Committee of the Whole that is not
11.2germane is out of order. A non-germane amendment includes one that relates to a substantially
11.3different subject, or is intended to accomplish a substantially different purpose than that of the
11.4original bill to which it is proposed. An amendment to insert a constitutional amendment is
11.5not germane to a bill that does not already include a constitutional amendment. Whether an
11.6amendment is germane is a question to be decided by the President, who may put the question to
11.7the body if the President chooses.
11.8A motion to remove an amendment placed on a House bill under Rule 49 is out of order if
11.9removal of the amendment would make a portion of the House bill not germane to the Senate
11.10companion for which it was substituted.
11.11AMENDMENTS TO BILLS
11.1238. In drawing an amendment to a bill or resolution reference shall be made therein, first to
11.13the number of the bill, then to the page, and then to the line or lines from which matter is to be
11.14stricken or in which new matter is to be inserted.
11.15AMENDMENTS TO TITLE
11.1639. The title to a bill may be amended at any time during its pendency in the bill is
11.17amended by the Senate.
11.18RECALL FROM COMMITTEE
11.1940. With the concurrence of the first author of the bill, before the deadline for committee
11.20action on the bill a majority of the Senate and after the deadline for committee action on the
11.21bill 60 percent of the Senate may recall a bill from any committee and re-refer it to any other
11.22committee or place it on General Orders. With the concurrence of the first author of the bill, a
11.23majority of the Senate may at any time take a bill from the table and place it on General Orders.
11.24By a report of the Committee on Rules and Administration adopted by the Senate, the
11.25Committee on Rules and Administration, on request of the first author, may remove a bill from
11.26committee and re-refer it to any other committee or place it on General Orders.
11.27DISTRIBUTION AND PRINTING OF BILLS
11.2841. To the extent practical the Secretary shall provide a copy of any bill to the public
11.29and may charge a reasonable fee.
11.30Unless otherwise ordered by the Senate, all Senate bills which have been reported upon
11.31favorably or without recommendation by a committee shall be printed prior to consideration
12.1by the Senate or the Committee of the Whole. A House bill amended by the Senate must be
12.2unofficially engrossed and printed when placed on General Orders. A bill may be printed by order
12.3of the Secretary when amended after second reading. A bill shall be printed when ordered by
12.4a majority vote of the Senate. Action by the Senate on a bill which has not been printed is a
12.5waiver of the printing requirement.
12.6COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
12.742. All bills, memorials, orders, resolutions and votes requiring the approval of the
12.8Governor shall, after a second reading, be considered in Committee of the Whole before they are
12.9finally acted upon by the Senate, except as provided for in Rules 9 and 10.
12.1043. The President may call a member to the Chair when the Senate resolves itself into the
12.11Committee of the Whole. The rules observed in the Senate govern, as far as practicable, the
12.12proceedings of the Committee of the Whole, and the Chair of the Committee of the Whole has the
12.13powers of the President, as appropriate. However, a member may speak more than twice on the
12.14same subject and a call for the previous question cannot be made. The yeas and nays shall be
12.15taken only upon the request of three members, and when taken shall be recorded in the Journal
12.16along with the amendment; provided, however, that a member may, with the approval of the
12.17Chair of the Committee on Rules and Administration, submit a description of the amendment
12.18for printing. In those cases the Secretary shall retain in the minutes of the Committee of the
12.19Whole the full text of the amendment.
12.2044. The recommendations of the Committee of the Whole shall be reported to the Senate. If
12.21a recommendation contains a proposed amendment of a bill, that amendment shall be noted on a
12.22separate piece of paper but when reported need not be read by the President unless required by
12.23one or more of the members. The question is on the adoption or rejection of the report, and no
12.24other question shall be admitted. The question may be divided to permit separate Senate action
12.25on the report as to any bill. On adoption of the report of the Committee of the Whole all bills
12.26recommended to pass shall be placed upon the Calendar.
12.27AMENDMENT ON THIRD READING
12.2845. No amendment is in order on third reading without the unanimous consent of the
12.29Senate unless it fills a blank, amends the title as provided by Rule 39, is proposed to the chief
12.30author of the bill by the Revisor of Statutes to correct technical defects found by the Revisor
12.31while engrossing earlier amendments to the bill, or is proposed to a bill on the Consent Calendar
12.32before the bill is given its third reading.
13.1In filling blanks, the largest sum, the longest time and the greatest distance shall be first
13.2taken.
13.3MOTION TO REFER
13.446. A bill or resolution may be referred to committee at any time prior to its passage, and if
13.5an amendment is reported on the referral to any other than the Committee of the Whole, it shall
13.6again be read the second time, considered in Committee of the Whole, read the third time and
13.7placed on final passage. If the referral is to the Committee of the Whole it shall be placed at the
13.8head of General Orders, except when the referral is under Rule 9.
13.9FINAL PASSAGE
13.1047. The final question upon a bill or other matter requiring action by both Houses after
13.11its first and second reading, and after the consideration in Committee of the Whole, is upon
13.12its final passage.
13.13TRANSMITTING OF BILLS TO THE HOUSE
13.1448. Except as provided in Rule 31, immediately after the passage of a bill or other matter in
13.15which the concurrence of the House of Representatives is requested, the Secretary shall transmit it
13.16to the House. On the concurrence of a bill or other matter of the House by the Senate, or on the
13.17concurrence or disagreement in a vote of the House, the Secretary shall notify the House.
13.18COMPARISON AND SUBSTITUTION OF BILLS
13.1949. Unless there is a motion by the Chair of the Committee on Rules and Administration or
13.20objection under Rule 35, a House bill, after its first reading, shall be referred as follows:
13.21(a) If there is no Senate companion bill, the House bill shall be referred to the appropriate
13.22standing committee;
13.23(b) If there is a Senate companion bill, the House bill shall be referred to the standing
13.24committee possessing the Senate companion;
13.25(c) If the Senate companion bill has been reported to the Senate, the House bill shall be
13.26referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration, which shall report whether the House bill
13.27is identical to the Senate companion bill. If the bills are identical, the report shall recommend that
13.28the House bill be given its second reading and substituted for the Senate companion bill and the
13.29Senate companion bill be indefinitely postponed. If the House bill is not identical to the Senate
13.30companion bill, the report of the committee shall so state and recommend an amendment to
13.31the House bill that when adopted will render the House bill identical to the Senate bill. Upon
14.1adoption of a committee report containing the proposed amendment, the House bill as amended
14.2shall be given its second reading and substituted for the Senate companion bill and the Senate
14.3companion bill shall be indefinitely postponed.
14.4Reports of the Committee on Rules and Administration pursuant to this rule shall be
14.5prepared and submitted on behalf of the committee by the Secretary.
14.6A House bill placed on the Calendar by substitution shall not be given its third reading
14.7on the same day as the substitution.
14.8ENGROSSING AND ENROLLING OF BILLS
14.950. All engrossing and enrolling of bills shall be done at the direction and under authority
14.10of the Senate.
14.11Every bill, memorial, order or resolution originating in the Senate shall be carefully
14.12engrossed before being transmitted to the House of Representatives for concurrence.
14.13All bills shall be carefully enrolled under the supervision of the Committee on Rules and
14.14Administration, which may report to the Senate at any time on the enrollment of bills.
14.15DISPOSITION OF BILLS ON ADJOURNMENT
14.1651. Adjournment of the regular session in an odd-numbered year to a date certain in the
14.17following year shall be equivalent to daily adjournment, except that a bill on the Calendar,
14.18Consent Calendar, or General Orders shall be returned to the standing committee other than the
14.19Committee on Rules and Administration from which it was last reported to the Senate, unless
14.20otherwise provided for by motion prior to adjournment. Bills returned to committee pursuant to
14.21this rule shall, upon request of the author, be given priority for consideration by the committee
14.22ahead of all other bills in the order in which they appeared on the Calendar, Consent Calendar, or
14.23General Orders.
14.24PETITIONS AND OTHER COMMUNICATIONS
14.2552. In presenting a petition, memorial, remonstrance or other communication addressed to
14.26the Senate, a member shall only state the general purpose of it.
14.27Every petition, memorial, remonstrance, resolution, bill and report of committee, shall have
14.28an appropriate title, and the name of the member presenting it written on it.
14.29RESOLUTIONS
15.153. Memorial resolutions addressed to the President or the Congress of the United States,
15.2or a house or member of Congress, or a department or officer of the United States, or a state or
15.3foreign government, joint resolutions, and resolutions requiring the signature of the Governor
15.4shall follow the same procedure as bills before being adopted. A resolution may not be changed
15.5to a bill, and a bill may not be changed to a resolution.
15.6Upon a member giving notice of intention to debate a resolution not required to follow the
15.7same procedure as bills and not offered by the Committee on Rules and Administration, the
15.8resolution shall lie over one calendar day without debate or other action. Upon the request of a
15.9member, the resolution shall be referred to the proper committee. Whenever a question arises
15.10concerning the proper reference the procedure provided by Rule 35 applies.
15.11CONFIRMATIONS
15.1254. Every gubernatorial appointment requiring the advice and consent of the Senate shall
15.13be referred by the President to the appropriate committee. If a question arises as to the proper
15.14committee, the appointment shall be referred without debate to the Committee on Rules and
15.15Administration for a report making the proper reference.
15.16The final question on the appointment is, "Will the Senate, having given its advice, now
15.17consent to this appointment?" The question shall not be put the same day the appointment is
15.18received or on the day it is reported by committee unless by unanimous consent.
15.19SIGNING OF ACTS, RESOLUTIONS
15.2055. In addition to the duties under Rule 3, the President shall sign all acts, memorials,
15.21addresses and resolutions. All writs, warrants and subpoenas issued by the Senate shall be signed
15.22by the President and attested by the Secretary. Upon a finding by the Committee on Rules and
15.23Administration that the President refuses or is unable to sign any of the documents described in
15.24this rule, the Chair of the Committee on Rules and Administration, or some other member selected
15.25by the committee shall assume the duties of the President under this rule until the President is able
15.26to sign the documents described or until the Senate elects a new President, whichever occurs first.
15.27APPOINTMENT OF COMMITTEES
15.2856. A member may not serve as the chair of a the same standing committee or a the
15.29same division of a standing committee, or a committee or division with substantially the same
15.30jurisdiction, for more than two consecutive Senate terms. This limit does not apply to the
15.31Committee on Rules and Administration. This limit applies to time served as a chair in the
15.32seventy-eighth legislature and thereafter.
16.1The majority and minority shall each be represented on all standing committees of the
16.2Senate substantially in proportion to their numbers in the Senate. The majority group shall assign
16.3the number of positions the minority group will hold on each committee. The minority group shall
16.4be given adequate notice about its positions prior to the commencement of the session. Both the
16.5majority and minority groups shall appoint their own members to fill the number of positions each
16.6group will hold on each committee. The minority group shall transmit notice of its assignments
16.7to the majority group within ten calendar days after receipt of the notice of positions available.
16.8The minority group may designate a ranking member for each committee. Nothing prohibits a
16.9member of the minority group from serving as chair or vice chair of a committee, subcommittee,
16.10division, or commission. If the minority group for any reason fails to make its appointments
16.11pursuant to this rule, the majority group may make all the committee assignments.
16.12The majority and minority committee assignments are subject to the uniform criteria
16.13governing committee assignments applicable to both the majority and minority. The uniform
16.14criteria shall be promulgated by the majority group and transmitted to the minority group together
16.15with notification of committee positions available to the minority.
16.16Committee assignments as made by the majority and minority groups shall be followed by
16.17the Senate in the resolution establishing representation on all Senate standing committees.
16.18After the organization of the Senate and after consultation and advice from the minority
16.19leader, the Chair of the Committee on Rules and Administration may add members to or
16.20delete members from the standing committees. All conference committees of the Senate and
16.21members of commissions to be appointed by the Senate authorized by rule, statute, resolution or
16.22otherwise, shall be appointed by the Subcommittee on Committees of the Committee on Rules
16.23and Administration, unless otherwise provided, subject to confirmation by the Senate. In the
16.24appointment of members of conference committees between the two houses, the Subcommittee on
16.25Committees of the Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate shall appoint those who
16.26are in accord with the position of the Senate, and whenever practical, give preference to authors
16.27of bills in dispute and to members of standing committees in which the bills were considered.
16.28STANDING COMMITTEES
16.2957. The standing committees of the Senate are as follows:
16.30Agriculture and Rural Development
16.31Children, Families and Learning
16.32Commerce
17.1Crime Prevention
17.2Education Finance
17.3Election Laws
17.4Environment and Natural Resources
17.5Governmental Operations and Veterans
17.6Health and Family Security
17.7Human Resources Finance
17.8Jobs, Energy and Community Development
17.9Judiciary
17.10Local and Metropolitan Government
17.11Rules and Administration
17.12State Government Finance
17.13Taxes
17.14Transportation
17.15The Committee on Rules and Administration may constitute a standing Subcommittee on
17.16Committees, the report of which within its jurisdiction has the effect of a report of the main
17.17Committee on Rules and Administration. The subcommittee shall consist of five members, one of
17.18whom shall be a member of the minority group.
17.19Each standing committee of the Senate, including a subcommittee or division of the
17.20committee, is authorized at any time to sit and act, to investigate and take testimony on any matter
17.21within its jurisdiction, to report hearings held by it, and to make expenditures as authorized from
17.22time to time by the standing Committee on Rules and Administration. A standing committee,
17.23but not a subcommittee or division, may require by subpoena or otherwise the attendance and
17.24testimony of witnesses and the production of correspondence, books, papers, and documents,
17.25in the manner provided by Minnesota Statutes, section 3.153.
17.26COMMITTEE MEETINGS
17.2758. All meetings of the Senate, its committees, committee divisions, and subcommittees are
17.28open to the public. A meeting of a caucus of the members of any of those bodies from the same
18.1political party need not be open to the public. A caucus of the Hennepin county, Ramsey county,
18.2or St. Louis county delegation is open to the public. For purposes of this rule, a meeting occurs
18.3when a quorum is present and action is taken regarding a matter within the jurisdiction of the body.
18.4To the extent practical, meetings of all committees, subcommittees, and divisions shall be
18.5announced to the public at least three calendar days prior to convening. The notice shall state the
18.6name of the committee, subcommittee, or division, the bill or bills to be considered, the place
18.7and time of meeting. The notice shall be posted on all Senate bulletin boards in the Capitol and
18.8the State Office Building. A notice shall be sent to the House of Representatives for posting as
18.9it deems necessary. If the three-day notice requirement cannot be met, known proponents and
18.10opponents of the bill shall be given simultaneous notice of the meeting as soon as practicable.
18.11A Senate committee, subcommittee, or division shall adjourn no later than 11:00 p.m. each
18.12day, unless two-thirds of the members present vote to suspend this requirement.
18.13QUORUM IN COMMITTEE
18.1459. A majority of its members constitutes a quorum of a committee, subcommittee,
18.15or division.
18.16REPORT OF VOTE IN COMMITTEE
18.1760. Upon the request of a member of a committee or, subcommittee, or division to which
18.18a bill has been referred, or upon the request of the author of the bill, a record shall be made of
18.19the vote on the bill in the committee or, subcommittee, or division, including the vote on any
18.20amendment or proposed amendment to it, in the committee or, subcommittee, or division to
18.21which the bill was referred.
18.22Upon request of three members of the committee before the vote is taken, the record of a
18.23roll call vote in a standing committee shall accompany the committee report and be printed
18.24in the Journal.
18.25COMMITTEE ACTION
18.2661. No report of any committee shall be made to the Senate unless it reports action taken at
18.27a regular or special meeting of the committee. A report in violation of this rule is out of order.
18.28EMPLOYEES AUTHORIZED IN THE SENATE
18.2962. The Committee on Rules and Administration shall establish positions, set compensation,
18.30appoint employees, and authorize expense reimbursement for employees as it deems proper to
18.31carry out the work of the Senate. At the request of any committee member, an action of the
19.1committee shall be submitted as a Senate resolution for adoption by the Senate. A roster of all
19.2employees of the Senate, including positions and compensation, shall be kept by the Secretary and
19.3shall be open for inspection by the public. The Secretary shall post, in a public place in the Capitol,
19.4a notice of every vacant position on the permanent staff of the Senate. The notice must remain
19.5posted for at least two weeks, and no vacancy may be filled until the period of posting has elapsed.
19.6BUDGET AND EXPENDITURES
19.763. The Committee on Rules and Administration shall adopt an operating budget for the
19.8Senate and refer it to the Committee on Finance.
19.9All propositions for the appointment and payment of employees of the Senate or for
19.10expenditures on account of the Legislature, other than those provided by law, shall be referred to
19.11the Committee on Rules and Administration without debate.
19.12AUTHORITY OVER EMPLOYEES
19.1364. Except as otherwise provided in these rules, the Committee on Rules and Administration
19.14has full and exclusive authority over, and charge of all employees, officers and clerks of the Senate
19.15both elective and appointive. The committee has the sole and exclusive power and authority to
19.16assign them to duties other than for which they were elected or appointed as the committee may
19.17from time to time provide. The committee has power to appoint employees, officers or clerks as it
19.18deems proper to exercise the power granted to it by this rule. The committee may make rules and
19.19regulations for the government of the employees, officers and clerks as they see fit. In case of
19.20violation of an order of the committee by an employee, officer or clerk, or in case of a violation of
19.21a rule or regulation made by the committee, or in case of misconduct or omission by an employee,
19.22officer or clerk, the Committee on Rules and Administration may hear complaints and discharge
19.23the employee, officer or clerk or impose other punishment by way of fine or otherwise upon the
19.24employee, officer or clerk as the committee deems just and proper.
19.25DUTIES OF SECRETARY
19.2665. The Secretary shall keep a correct Journal of the proceedings of the Senate and shall
19.27perform other duties assigned to the Secretary. The Secretary shall not permit Journal records,
19.28accounts or papers to be taken from the table or out of the Secretary's custody, other than in the
19.29regular mode of business. If a paper in the Secretary's charge is missing, the Secretary shall
19.30report the fact to the President, so that inquiry may be made. The Secretary shall superintend
19.31the recording of proceedings in the Journal, the engrossing, transcribing and copying of the bills
19.32and resolutions, supervise the assistants, clerks and stenographers under the direction of the
19.33Committee on Rules and Administration, and generally perform the duties of Secretary, under
20.1direction of the President. The Secretary shall keep a record of all Senate and House bills showing
20.2the state, condition, and progress of each bill pending, until its final passage.
20.3The Secretary shall cause to be recorded on magnetic tape the proceedings of the Senate,
20.4the Committee of the Whole, and each standing committee, subcommittee, and division. Each
20.5tape shall be clearly labeled to show the name of the body whose proceedings are recorded and
20.6the dates the proceedings occurred. Each tape of the proceedings of the Senate and the Committee
20.7of the Whole shall be accompanied by a log showing the number of each bill considered and the
20.8places on the tape where consideration of the bill occurred. Within two working days after each
20.9day the Senate is in session the Secretary shall make a copy of the tape and corresponding log
20.10of proceedings of the Senate and the Committee of the Whole and deliver the copies to the
20.11Legislative Reference Library. Within one week after each meeting of a standing committee,
20.12subcommittee, or division, the Secretary shall deliver a tape recording of the meeting to the
20.13Legislative Reference Library, together with an agenda showing bills considered and any action
20.14taken on them. Upon completion and approval of the minutes of the meeting, a copy of the
20.15minutes shall be promptly delivered to the Legislative Reference Library. The Secretary shall
20.16keep a record of each session of the Senate and the Committee of the Whole, each meeting of a
20.17Senate standing committee, subcommittee, or division and the date on which a tape recording
20.18of the session or meeting was transmitted to the Legislative Reference Library. The Library
20.19shall keep a similar record of all tapes received. The Library shall provide committee staff with
20.20reasonable access to Senate tapes and shall provide the public with convenient facilities to listen
20.21to the tapes. Copies of Senate tapes shall be available to the public from the Secretary, for a fee
20.22determined by the Secretary to be adequate to cover the cost of preparing the copies. A copy shall
20.23be provided free to a member of the Senate upon request for use in legislative business. The
20.24original tape and log of each session of the Senate and the Committee of the Whole shall be kept
20.25by the Secretary until the end of the period for which the members of the existing House of
20.26Representatives have been elected, at which time the tape may be preserved or disposed of as the
20.27Secretary sees fit. Tapes, logs, and minutes forwarded to the Legislative Reference Library shall
20.28be kept by the Library until two years after the end of the period for which the members of the
20.29existing Senate have been elected, at which time they may be preserved or disposed of as the
20.30Library sees fit. It is the intention that testimony and discussion preserved under this rule not be
20.31admissible in any court or administrative proceeding on an issue of legislative intent.
20.32JOURNAL--HOW APPROVED
20.3366. The Journal of each day's proceedings is open for correction at any time during the
20.34session of the next day the Senate meets. Unless corrected on that day, the Journal stands
20.35approved.
21.1SECRETARY MAY CORRECT ERRORS
21.267. The Secretary of the Senate and Engrossing Secretary, in all proper cases, shall correct
21.3all mistakes in numbering the sections and reference to them, whether the errors occur in the
21.4original bill or are caused by amendments to it.
21.5PURCHASING SUPPLIES AND SERVICES
21.668. The Secretary is the agent of the Senate for the purchase of supplies and services. The
21.7Secretary's records on purchase of supplies and services are open for inspection during normal
21.8business hours. The Secretary shall adopt administrative controls to ensure that each member
21.9is accountable for the member's own long distance telephone calls and that Senate telephones
21.10are used only for Senate business.
21.11By the 15th day of April, July, October, and January of each year, the Secretary of the
21.12Senate shall submit a detailed report of Senate expenditures during the previous quarter to the
21.13Committee on Rules and Administration.
21.14DUTIES OF THE SERGEANT AT ARMS
21.1569. The Sergeant at Arms shall execute all orders of the President and perform all assigned
21.16duties connected with the police and good order of the Senate Chamber; exercise supervision
21.17over the entry and exit of all persons to and from the Chamber; see that messages are promptly
21.18delivered; see that the hall is properly ventilated and the temperature properly regulated, and that
21.19it is open for the use of members of the Senate at the time fixed; and perform all other services
21.20pertaining to the office of Sergeant.
21.21PERSONS PRIVILEGED TO THE FLOOR OF THE SENATE
21.2270. No person shall be admitted within the Senate Chamber, but a member, an officer, the
21.23constitutional officers, ex-Governors of the State of Minnesota, members of the House, judges
21.24of the trial and appellate courts and members of Congress. Those who have been members of
21.25Congress or of the state Legislature who are not interested in any claim or directly in a bill
21.26pending before the Legislature may be personally admitted by a member of the Senate. An
21.27employee of either house may be admitted at the request of a member or an officer of the Senate.
21.28The head of a department of state government may be admitted by the President. When a
21.29member-elect is sworn in, the member-elect may request that one guest be admitted. When the
21.30Senate is not meeting, a person not a member may be admitted to the floor at the request of a
21.31member or officer. No public hearings shall be held in the Senate Chamber. The retiring room
22.1of the Senate is reserved for the exclusive use of the members of the Senate at all times. The
22.2Sergeant at Arms shall strictly enforce this rule.
22.3PRIVILEGE OF REPORTERS
22.471. Provision shall be made for news reporters on the Senate floor in limited numbers, and
22.5in the Senate gallery. Because of limited space on the floor, permanent space is limited to those
22.6news agencies which have regularly covered the legislature, namely: The Associated Press, St.
22.7Paul Pioneer Press Dispatch, Star Tribune, Duluth News-Tribune and Herald, Fargo Forum,
22.8Rochester Post-Bulletin, St. Cloud Daily Times, WCCO radio, KSTP radio, and Minnesota Public
22.9Radio. An additional two spaces shall be provided to other reporters if space is available.
22.10One person from each named agency and one person from the Senate Publications Office
22.11may be present at the press table on the Senate floor at any one time.
22.12Other news media personnel may occupy seats provided in the Senate gallery.
22.13The Committee on Rules and Administration may, through committee action or by
22.14delegating authority to the Secretary, allow television filming on the Senate floor on certain
22.15occasions.
22.16The Secretary of the Senate shall compile and distribute to the public a directory of
22.17reporters accredited to report from the Senate floor. The directory must include each reporter's
22.18picture and news organization and a brief biography. The Secretary must issue each accredited
22.19reporter an identification badge showing the reporter's name and news organization.
22.20DISORDERLY CONDUCT
22.2172. In case of a disturbance or disorderly conduct in the lobbies or galleries, the President
22.22may order them cleared. Picture taking by persons other than accredited news reporters, picture
22.23taking with floodlights or flash units, hand clapping, demonstrations, and food and beverages, are
22.24prohibited in the Senate Chamber and in the galleries.
22.25INTRODUCTION OF VISITORS
22.2673. No introduction of a visitor or visitors in the galleries shall be made from the floor or
22.27rostrum of the Senate.
22.28SMOKING
23.174. No person is permitted to smoke in the Senate Chamber, Retiring Room, hearing
23.2rooms, or other spaces under the control of the Senate. There shall be no smoking in the visitors
23.3section of the galleries.
23.4ETHICAL CONDUCT
23.575. The Subcommittee on Committees shall appoint a Subcommittee on Ethical Conduct of
23.6the Committee on Rules and Administration consisting of four members, two from the majority
23.7and two from the minority.
23.8The subcommittee shall serve in an advisory capacity to a member or employee upon
23.9written request and shall issue recommendations to the member or employee.
23.10The subcommittee shall investigate a complaint by a member of the Senate in writing under
23.11oath received during a legislative session regarding improper conduct by a member or employee
23.12of the Senate. Improper conduct includes conduct that violated a rule or administrative policy of
23.13the Senate, that violated accepted norms of Senate behavior, that betrayed the public trust, or that
23.14tended to bring the Senate into dishonor or disrepute.
23.15Within 30 days after receiving a complaint, the subcommittee must meet and either make
23.16a finding of no probable cause, vote to defer action until a certain time, or proceed with its
23.17investigation. If criminal proceedings relating to the same conduct have begun, the subcommittee
23.18may defer its own proceedings until the criminal proceedings have been completed.
23.19The subcommittee has the powers of a standing committee to issue subpoenas pursuant
23.20to Minnesota Statutes, section 3.153. In order to determine whether there is probable cause
23.21to believe that improper conduct has occurred, the subcommittee may, by a vote of three of
23.22its members, conduct a preliminary inquiry in executive session to which the requirements of
23.23Rule 58 do not apply. The executive session may be ordered by a vote of three of its members
23.24whenever the subcommittee determines that matters relating to probable cause are likely to be
23.25discussed. The executive session must be limited to matters relating to probable cause. Upon
23.26a finding of probable cause, further proceedings on the complaint are open to the public. To
23.27minimize disruption of its public proceedings, the subcommittee may require that television
23.28coverage be pooled or be provided by Senate media services.
23.29The subcommittee may appoint special counsel to provide expert advice on how to conduct
23.30its proceedings. The subcommittee may appoint a suitable person to conduct the investigation and
23.31report findings of fact and recommendations for action to the subcommittee. If, after investigation,
23.32the subcommittee finds the complaint substantiated by the evidence, it shall recommend to the
23.33Committee on Rules and Administration appropriate disciplinary action.
24.1Members shall adhere to the highest standard of ethical conduct as embodied in the
24.2Minnesota Constitution, state law, and these rules.
24.3A member shall not publish or distribute written material if the member knows or has
24.4reason to know that the material includes any statement that is false or clearly misleading,
24.5concerning a public policy issue or concerning the member's or another member's voting record
24.6or position on a public policy issue.
24.7LOBBYISTS
24.876. A lobbyist shall not appear before a Senate committee pursuant to the lobbyist's
24.9employment unless the lobbyist is in compliance with the law requiring lobbyist registration,
24.10Minnesota Statutes, sections 10A.03 to 10A.06. A lobbyist, when appearing before a committee,
24.11shall disclose to the committee those in whose interest the lobbyist speaks and the purpose of the
24.12lobbyist's appearance. A lobbyist shall not knowingly furnish false or misleading information or
24.13make a false or misleading statement that is relevant and material to a matter before the Senate or
24.14any of its committees when the lobbyist knows or should know it will influence the judgment or
24.15action of the Senate or any of its committees thereon.
24.16The Subcommittee on Ethical Conduct shall investigate a complaint by a member of the
24.17Senate in writing under oath received during a legislative session regarding improper conduct
24.18by a lobbyist. Improper conduct includes conduct that violated a rule or administrative policy
24.19of the Senate, that violated accepted norms of Senate behavior, that betrayed the public trust,
24.20or that tended to bring the Senate into dishonor or disrepute. The investigatory procedures of
24.21Rule 75 apply.
24.22OPEN MEETING COMPLAINTS
24.2377. Any person may submit to the Chair of the Committee on Rules and Administration
24.24a complaint that members have violated the open meeting requirements of Minnesota Statutes,
24.25section 3.055. A member of the Senate may submit the complaint either orally or in writing;
24.26others must submit the complaint in writing. Whether the complaint was written or oral, the
24.27Chair of the Committee on Rules and Administration shall immediately forward it in writing to
24.28the Subcommittee on Ethical Conduct without disclosing the identity of the complainant. The
24.29complaint must not be further disclosed without the consent of the complainant, except to the
24.30members against whom the complaint was made, unless the complaint was made by a member of
24.31the Senate in writing under oath, in which case the investigatory procedures of Rule 75 apply.