There was a public hearing for the “green amendment” HJR 4210 in front of the House Environment & Energy committee on January 30, 2024. You are encouraged to submit your position for the record to this committee by going to the HJR 4210 page and clicking “Send a comment on this bill to your legislators” to the right of the status box.
Standing for Washington was there to testify with a PRO position on this legislation, while noting that we would like to see amendments to include rights of nature language, and the inclusion of private actors, in addition to the government, as those who have a duty to maintain these new rights. Learn more about the importance of including these two issues.
Only 4 people signed in to testify as CON and 2 signed in as OTHER – the remaining 34 people signed in as PRO. Out of the almost 1300 people who wanted to register their opinion without testifying, nearly 58% went toward PRO.
House Joint Resolution (HJR) 4210
On January 22, 2024, Representative Debra Lekanoff (D-Bow) introduced a “green amendment” to the Washington state legislature. While it did get a committee hearing, it did not get a vote so it did not get out of committee (read more about what happened below).
HJR 4210: Adding a new section to the Washington state Constitution regarding the conservation and protection of the state’s natural resources.
“Article I, section . . .. (a) The people of the state, including future generations, have the right to a clean and healthy environment, including pure water, clean air, healthy ecosystems, and a stable climate, and to the preservation of the natural, cultural, scenic, and healthful qualities of the environment.
(b) The state, including each political subdivision of the state, shall serve as trustee of the natural resources of the state, among them its waters, air, flora, fauna, soils, and climate. The state, including each political subdivision of the state, shall conserve, protect, and maintain these resources for the benefit of all the people, including generations yet to come.
(c) The rights stated in this section are inherent, inalienable, and indefeasible, are among those rights reserved to all the people, and are on par with other protected inalienable rights. The state shall equitably protect these rights for all people regardless of their race, ethnicity, tribal membership status, gender, geography, or wealth, and shall act with prudence, loyalty, and impartiality in fulfilling its trustee obligations. The provisions of this section are self-executing.
Standing for Washington supports this bill to establish a “green amendment” in the Washington state constitution even though it is not a rights of nature constitutional amendment because it would still be a monumental step in the fight for nature.
Read more about the difference between “rights of nature” and the language of “green amendments” that gives the right to a clean environment to the citizens, and why Standing for Washington would like to see amendments to the bill to include rights of nature language and the inclusion of the duty of private actors.
We have the opportunity between now and the 2025 legislative session to work to potentially amend this legislation, or craft new legislation, to give nature rights and require everyone to be responsible to uphold those rights. Contact us if you’re interested in getting involved.