Bill > SCR15

Introduced Session

This concurrent resolution proposes an amendment to the State Constitution that would grant every person the right to a clean and healthy environment, and make the State the trustee of all public natural resources. Specifically, the proposed constitutional amendment would provide that every person has a right to a clean and healthy environment, including pure water, clean air, and ecologically healthy habitats, and to the preservation of the natural, scenic, historic, and aesthetic qualities of the environment. The amendment provides that the State shall not infringe upon these rights, by action or inaction. The amendment would also provide that the State's public natural resources, including its waters, air, flora, fauna, climate, and public lands, are the common property of all of the people, including both present and future generations. The State would serve as trustee of these resources and have a duty to conserve and maintain them for the benefit of all people. Finally, the amendment would provide that the rights established in the amendment are self-executing, and are in addition to any rights conferred by the public trust doctrine or common law.

Committee Categories

Linda Greenstein (D)*,  Andrew Zwicker (D)*,  Jon Bramnick (R),  Renee Burgess (D),  Richard Codey (D),  Nilsa Cruz-Perez (D),  Sandra Cunningham (D),  Patrick Diegnan (D),  Nia Gill (D),  Vin Gopal (D),  Gordon Johnson (D),  Joe Lagana (D),  Fred Madden (D),  Nellie Pou (D),  Ronald Rice (D),  Teresa Ruiz (D),  Holly Schepisi (R),  Bob Singer (R),  Jean Stanfield (R),  Shirley Turner (D),  Joe Vitale (D), 

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Environment and Energy Committee (on 01/11/2022)

Official Document