Green Amendments are self executing provisions added to the bill of rights section of a constitution that recognize and protect the rights of all people, including future generations, regardless of race, ethnicity, tribal membership status, socioeconomics or geography, to pure water, clean air, a stable climate, and healthy environments.
The Texas Green Amendment — called The Stewardship Amendment — was filed on February 21, 2023 by TX State Representative Vikki Goodwin.
The Joint Resolution proposing the amendment reads BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Article I, Texas Constitution, is amended by adding Section 36 to read as follows:
Sec. 36. (a) The public, individually and collectively, has the right to a clean and healthy environment, including clean water, clean air, healthy soil, and diverse and abundant native flora and fauna, and to the preservation of the natural, cultural, scenic, recreational, and healthful qualities of the environment. The right to a clean and healthy environment is inherent, inalienable, indefeasible, and equal with other protected inalienable rights of liberty reserved to the public. The state shall equitably protect this right for the public and may not take any action to infringe on this right.
(b) The public natural resources of this state are the common property of all persons, including future generations. The state, including the legislative, judicial, and executive branches and each state agency and political subdivision, shall conserve, protect, and maintain the state’s public natural resources for the benefit of the public, including future generations.
(c) This section is self-executing.
Take Action Now
Take a moment to encourage hearings on, and support for, the proposed Texas Stewardship Amendment (aka Texas’ version of a Green Amendment) that will recognize and protect the rights of all Texans to clean water and air, and healthy soils and environments.
State Representative Vikki Goodwin has proposed the Texas Stewardship Amendment (HJR 119) that will add to the state constitution’s bill of rights, the right of all people to a clean, safe and healthy environment. This will be Texas’ version of a Green Amendment and meets all criteria to give highest constitutional protection to the environmental rights of all Texans, including present and future generations.
The amendment has been assigned to the House Committee on Natural Resources for initial consideration. Contact the Committee Chair, Representative Tracy King, and ask him to please schedule a hearing so committee members can learn more about the proposed Stewardship Amendment and hear from the people of Texas about their opinion on the matter.
A very brief, direct and clear note asking for a hearing and his support for the bill is most likely to resonate.
To send your message to Representative Tracy King go to his online email form and fill in your message: https://house.texas.gov/members/member-page/email/?district=80&session=88
Consider the following text – or something similar:
Honorable Chair King,
I am reaching out with two requests:
- As Chair of the Committee on Natural Resources, please schedule the Texas Stewardship Amendment for a committee hearing so committee members can learn about the language and values of the amendment and how it will benefit Texas communities; and
- Please support the Texas Stewardship Amendment that will ensure the rights of all Texans to clean water and air, and a healthy environment; and will ensure we all benefit from the health, safety, and economic benefits a healthy environment provides.
Respectfully,
Sign in Support
My organization would like to sign on in support of the Texas Stewardship Amendment (Texas’ version of a Green Amendment) in order to lift up environmental rights in our state so they are given highest constitutional protection. To sign on your organization in support, be listed on the website as a supporter, and start to learn more and engage sign up here.
If you are and individual or an organization interested in being a part of the effort to advance the Texas Stewardship Amendment, or have any questions, please get in touch with us at this link and let us know, we’ll start to loop you in or answer your questions.
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