King County Superior Court Judge Bruce Heller today ruled that the voter-approved supermajority requirement is unconstitutional. The ruling puts the issue back in the hands of the state Supreme Court.

Andrew Garber reports the decision in the Seattle Times.

Patrick Peter Callaghan provides important background and context, including this.

Three previous times the top court has been asked to decide whether an initiative can create a two-thirds majority requirement for tax increases. Three times the court has found a way not to rule on whether the state constitution’s requirement for a simple majority trumps any statute or initiative.

He also provides his earlier column describing the legislative set-up for the lawsuit.

While it’s unclear when the Court will take up the case, voters are likely to have an opportunity yet again to approve the supermajority requirement. Signatures are being gathered for Initiative 1185, which would reinstate the requirement last imposed by I-1053 in 2010.