Under the Minnesota Constitution, Article 4, Sec. 17, each bill passed by the legislature may only include a single subject. There has been discussion over the years about what constitutes a single subject and the courts generally have given the legislature great latitude in in establishing a single subject.
The single subject rule also means that any amendments to the bill as it goes through the process should be directly related, or “germane,” to that bill. On the House floor, the Speaker of the House determines if an amendment is germane. On the Senate floor, the President of the Senate makes the determination. On occasion, the entire body may be asked to rule on germaneness.
Last reviewed: 09/14/2026