A first reading is when a bill is introduced to a legislature. Typically in the United States, the bill is assigned a tracking number and immediately assigned to a committee, and is amended by committee between the first and second readings. In most British influenced legislatures (see: Westminster system), the committee consideration occurs between second and third readings.
In Canada, First Reading occurs in either the Senate or House of Commons. The bill is then printed.
See also: second reading, third reading