| 13 | 13 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1 |
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| 14 | 14 | | AN ACT TO AMEND THE NORTH CAROLINA CONSTITUTION TO PROTECT THE 2 |
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| 15 | 15 | | RIGHT TO PURE WATER, CLEAN AIR, AND A P RESERVED ENVIRONMENT. 3 |
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| 16 | 16 | | The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 4 |
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| 17 | 17 | | SECTION 1. Article I of the North Carolina Constitution is amended by adding a 5 |
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| 18 | 18 | | new section to read: 6 |
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| 19 | 19 | | "Sec. 39. Right to clean water, clean air, and a preserved environment. 7 |
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| 20 | 20 | | All the people have a right to clean water, clean air, and to the preservation of the natural, 8 |
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| 21 | 21 | | scenic, cultural, and healthful qualities of the environment, including the beneficial ecosystem 9 |
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| 22 | 22 | | services a clean and healthy environment provides. The State shall protect these rights equitably 10 |
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| 23 | 23 | | for all people. The State, including each branch, agency, and political subdivision, shall serve as 11 |
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| 24 | 24 | | trustee of the State's natural resources, among them, its air, waters, coastal lands, wetlands, open 12 |
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| 25 | 25 | | lands, native flora, native fauna, and soils, and shall conserve, protect, and maintain these 13 |
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| 26 | 26 | | resources for the benefit of all the people, including both present and future generations. This 14 |
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| 27 | 27 | | provision and the rights stated herein are inalienable and self-executing." 15 |
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| 28 | 28 | | SECTION 2. The amendment set out in Section 1 of this act shall be submitted to 16 |
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| 29 | 29 | | the qualified voters of the State at a statewide general election to be held in November of 2026, 17 |
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| 30 | 30 | | which election shall be conducted under the laws then governing elections in the State. Ballots, 18 |
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| 31 | 31 | | voting systems, or both may be used in accordance with Chapter 163A of the General Statutes. 19 |
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| 32 | 32 | | The question to be used in the voting systems and ballots shall be: 20 |
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| 33 | 33 | | "[ ] FOR [ ] AGAINST 21 |
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| 34 | 34 | | Constitutional amendment protecting the right of the people to pure water, clean air, 22 |
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| 35 | 35 | | and a preserved environment." 23 |
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| 36 | 36 | | SECTION 3. If a majority of votes cast on the question are in favor of the amendment 24 |
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| 37 | 37 | | set out in Section 1 of this act, the Bipartisan State Board of Elections and Ethics Enforcement 25 |
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| 38 | 38 | | shall certify the amendment to the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State shall enroll the 26 |
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| 39 | 39 | | amendment so certified among the permanent records of that office. The amendment set out in 27 |
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| 40 | 40 | | Section 1 of this act is effective upon certification. 28 |
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| 41 | 41 | | SECTION 4. Except as otherwise provided, this act is effective when it becomes 29 |
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| 42 | 42 | | law. 30 |
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