2025 is off to an exhilarating and energetic start… so let’s hop to the exciting news.
Green Amendments for Climate & Clean Energy – a Forum of Experts
Responding to the misinformation campaign of industry, this Green Amendments For The Generations forum focused on empowering Green Amendment champions and advocates with a full and informed understanding of how and why Green Amendments will help us address the climate crisis by advancing good quality clean energy projects.
You can watch the forum and learn from the panel of experts here (scroll down past the agenda and speaker bios until you find the video), on the Green Amendment Action Platform. Not already on the platform? You can sign up for the Action Platform here.
Connecticut Green Amendment is Re-Proposed for 2025
Also called the Connecticut Environmental Rights Amendment (CTERA)—the CT Green Amendment was proposed in 2025 by Representative Michael “MJ” Shannon as House Joint Resolution (HJ7). The amendment’s status can be tracked here.
The New Mexico Green Amendment Receives Swift Action in 2025
The New Mexico Green Amendment has also been re-proposed for 2025 consideration.
- In the House, the Green Amendment is HJR3 and has been sponsored by Representative Joanne Ferrary, Representative Patricia Roybal Caballero and Representative Joseph Hernandez.
- In the Senate, the Green Amendment is advancing as SJR4 and is sponsored by Senator Harold Pope Jr., Senator Shannon Pinto and Senator Antoinette Sedillo Lopez.
Sponsors held a powerful press conference to announce the amendment’s re-proposal and discuss its values for the state. View the press conference here.
And more exciting news, the amendment is still expected to have its first hearing before the House Government, Elections & Indian Affairs Committee, but next week.We believe that it will be on the agenda for Monday, February 3 from 8:30AM-10:30AM MST- though this is not confirmed.
Please stay tuned to the Action Platform (sign up here: bit.ly/NM_GAActionApp) or the Action Page of the New Mexico Green Amendment website for updates as they come. We had a great turnout at the hearing on Friday and will want to keep our momentum going!
The Hawaii Green Amendment is on its Way in 2025.
The Hawaii Green Amendment had its first hearing on January 27th before the Senate Agriculture & Environment Committee and passed by a vote of 5 to 0! And an interesting observation by one of our leading partners noticed that the Department of Land and Natural Resources did not submit testimony opposing or questioning the amendment in any way – which is a change from previous years.
The Amendment has been proposed by Senators Rhoads and Gabbard on the Senate side as SB559.
In the House the Amendment has been proposed by Representatives Poepoe, Amato, Grandinetti, Iwamoto, Kahaloa, Lamosao, Lowen, Marten, and Perruso as HB597.
People in Hawaii are speaking up due to the environmental values, but also the economic values of the amendment. Notably, the Chamber of Sustainable Commerce has included the Hawaii Green Amendment in its list of Community Collaboration Top Bill Ideas.
First Year for a Nebraska Green Amendment
Senator George Dungan has introduced LR22CA, an amendment to the state constitution that will recognize environmental rights. If passed, the amendment would place environmental rights in the state legally on par with other well-recognized fundamental rights such as the rights to free speech, private property and freedom of religion. Read about the proposal here.
News Out of Washington – Not This Year, but Still on the Move
And update from the Washington Leadership Team:
The legislative session is rolling and we have an unfortunate Green Amendment update.
Representative Lekanoff has decided not to bring forward a resolution for a Green Amendment this year for the following reasons. First, with a new Governor, she thinks the GA is unlikely to gain upper level support this session. Second, this is a budget year, often a contentious time, and colleagues have expressed a limited capacity to take on the GA at this time.
While we know that the advocacy of The Green Amendment is a long term pursuit, the result of no resolution this year is unfortunate. We are encouraged however, that many new organizations (14) have signed on in support of the GA including Climate Action Families, PSARA, Adopt a Stream Foundation and Third Act WA. Further, Earthjustice WA has signed on in support, and many individuals have come forward as well, expressing interest in working on this issue. Plus the positive Montana Youth ruling is inspiring.
