Lt. Governor’s Rulings
As President of the Senate, one of the Lieutenant Governor duties is to interpret the Senate Rules and Reed's Parliamentary Rules, which govern the Senate's conduct and procedures. Questions regarding the rules typically arise when a senator rises to a point of inquiry. Before making parliamentary rulings, the Lieutenant Governor generally consults the two attorneys from the Office of the Senate Counsel, who sit on either side of him on the Senate's rostrum.
The Lieutenant Governor will sometimes issue rulings from the rostrum shortly after the ruling is requested; in other instances, the Lieutenant Governor takes additional time to consider a question, conducting additional research and meeting with Senate counsel and his staff.
An example of a question of parliamentary procedure that commonly arises during Senate debate is whether a proposed amendment to a bill is within the bill's "scope and object," because Senate Rule 66 prohibits an amendment to a bill from changing the scope and object of the bill.
Lieutenant Governor Denny Heck Ruling
Lieutenant Governor Cyrus Habib Rulings
March 12, 2019 | Scope & Object Ruling: Amendments #359, #343, #344 SB 5078
March 8, 2018 | Votes Required for Final Passage of ESHB 3003
March 7, 2018 | Single Subject Ruling: ESSB 6614
March 7, 2018 | Votes Required for Final Passage of ESSB 6614
Feb. 14, 2018 | Scope & Object Ruling: Amendment #615, #616, #681 SB 6052
Jan. 27, 2017 | Votes Required to Amend Senate Rules
March 7, 2017 | Scope & Object Ruling: Amendment #115 SSB 5533
March 7, 2017 | Scope & Object Ruling: Amendment #118 SSB 5533
April 21, 2017 | Constitutionality of Supermajority Vote Requirement
April 21, 2017 | Distinction Between Taxes and Fees
April 21, 2017 | Whether SB 5111 Is Properly Before the Body
Lieutenant Governor Brad Owen Rulings