2025 -- H 5732
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LC001785
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S T A T E O F R H O D E I S L A N D
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025
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J O I N T R E S O L U T I O N
TO APPROVE AND PUBLISH AND SUBMIT TO THE ELECTORS A PROPOSITION OF
AMENDMENT TO THE CON STITUTION – GREEN AMENDMENT
Introduced By: Representatives Bennett, Speakman, Cortvriend, Spears, Carson,
Donovan, Cruz, Boylan, Phillips, and Cotter
Date Introduced: February 26, 2025
Referred To: House State Government & Elections
RESOLVED, That a majority of all members elected to each house of the general 1
assembly voting therefor, the following amendment to the Constitution of the state be proposed to 2
the qualified electors of the state in accordance with the provisions of Article XIV of the 3
Constitution, for their approval, and that it adds an additional section to Article 1, which is hereby 4
amended, effective January 1, 2027, to read as follows: 5
ARTICLE I 6
DECLARATION OF CERTAIN CONSTITUTIO NAL RIGHTS AND PRINCIPLES 7
SECTION 25. Green amendment. 8
All people in the State of Rhode Island (The Ocean State) have an inherent, inalienable, 9
indefeasible, and self-executing right to clean air, clean water, healthy and uncontaminated soil, a 10
life-supporting climate, and the preservation of the environment's natural, scenic, and recreational 11
values. The state shall serve as trustee of the natural resources of Rhode Island, and shall 12
conserve, protect, and maintain these resources for the benefit of all the people, including both 13
present and future generations. The state shall not infringe upon these rights, and shall protect 14
these rights and Rhode Island’s natural resources equitably for all people regardless of race, 15
ethnicity, gender or socioeconomics. 16
RESOLVED, That this proposition of amendment shall amend Article 1 as aforesaid; and 17
be it further 18
RESOLVED, That said proposition of amendment shall be submitted to the electors for 19
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their approval or rejection at the next statewide general election. The voting places in the several 1
cities and towns shall be kept open during the hours required by law for voting therein for general 2
officers of the state; and be it further 3
RESOLVED, That the secretary of state shall cause the said proposition of amendments 4
to be published as a part of this resolution in the newspapers of the state prior to the date of the 5
said meetings of the said electors; and the said proposition shall be inserted in the warrants or 6
notices to be issued previous to said meetings of the electors for the purpose of warning the town, 7
ward, or district meetings, and said proposition shall be read by the town, ward, or district 8
meetings to be held as aforesaid; and be it further 9
RESOLVED, That the town, ward, and district meetings to be held aforesaid shall be 10
warned, and the list of voters shall be canvassed and made up, and the said town, ward, and 11
district meetings shall be conducted in the same manner as now provided by law for the town, 12
ward, and district meetings for the election of general officers of the state. 13
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
J O I N T R E S O L U T I O N
TO APPROVE AND PUBLISH AND SUBMIT TO THE ELECTORS A PROPOSITION OF
AMENDMENT TO THE CON STITUTION – GREEN AMENDMENT
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This Joint Resolution would propose to the voters of the state a constitutional amendment 1
to Article 1 which would provide all people in the state would have an inherent, inalienable, 2
indefeasible, and self-executing right to clean air, health and uncontaminated soil, a life-3
supporting climate, and the preservation of the environment’s natural, scenic, and recreational 4
values. 5
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