NYS Assembly passes an “Environmental Bill of Rights”
The right to clean air and water now up to NY voters in November
On February 8, the New York State Assembly joined their Senate colleagues in passing A.1368/S.528, a bill to add environmental rights to Article 1 of the State Constitution: “Each person shall have a right to clean air and water, and a healthful environment.” The measure has now passed both houses of the Legislature during two consecutive sessions, (the bill previously passed both the Senate and Assembly in 2019) and will be placed on this year’s general election ballot in November.
The bill is sponsored by Assembly Environmental Conservation Committee Chair Steve Englebright and Senator Robert Jackson. If approved by voters, New York will be the third state to align environmental rights with political and civil liberties, such as freedom of speech and worship (the other two states are Pennsylvania and Montana).
Senator Robert Jackson said, “By continuing the process to add 15 words to the Constitution of our state, we are helping shape the future of New York: ‘Each person shall have a right to clean air and water, and a healthful environment.’ If the voters approve it in November, this language will finally put in place safeguards that require the government to consider the environment and our relationship to the Earth in decision making. If the government fails in that responsibility, New Yorkers will finally have the right to take legal action for a clean environment because it will be in the State Constitution.”
Provided information
