Hawaii Environmental Rights Amendment (2022)
| Hawaii Environmental Rights Amendment (2022) | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Election date November 8, 2022 | |
| Topic Environment | |
| Status Not on the ballot | |
| Type Constitutional amendment | Origin State legislature |
The Hawaii Environmental Rights Amendment was not on the ballot in Hawaii as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment on November 8, 2022.[1]
The amendment would have added the following rights to the state constitution and made the amendment effective 50 years after voter approval: "Each person has a right to a clean and healthy environment, including pure water, clean air and healthy
ecosystems, and to the preservation of the natural, cultural, scenic and healthful qualities of the environment."[2]
Text of the measure
Constitutional changes
- See also: Article I, Hawaii Constitution
The measure would have added a new section to Article I of the state constitution. The following underlined text would have been added:[2]
Section . Each person has a right to a clean and healthy environment, including pure water, clean air and healthy ecosystems, and to the preservation of the natural, cultural, scenic and healthful qualities of the environment. This provision and the rights stated herein are self—executing. The reserved rights stated herein are equivalent to other protected inherent and inalienable rights.[3]
Background
Similar measures
The New York Legislature referred an amendment to the November 2021 ballot to add a right to clean water, clean air, and a healthful environment to the New York Constitution's Bill of Rights. It was approved.
Path to the ballot
- See also: Amending the Hawaii Constitution
The state process
The Hawaii State Legislature can put a proposed amendment on the ballot upon either a two-thirds (66.67%) majority vote in both chambers of the legislature in the same session or two simple majority votes in both chambers held in two successive sessions.
2021 legislative session
The amendment was introduced as Senate Bill 502. The Hawaii State Senate passed the amendment 25-0 on March 9, 2021, with nine senators voting with reservation.[1]
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Hawaii State Legislature, "Senate Bill 502," accessed March 12, 2021
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Hawaii Legislature, "Senate Bill 502 text," accessed March 12, 2021
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source.
 |
State of Hawaii Honolulu (capital) |
|---|---|
| Elections |
What's on my ballot? | Elections in 2025 | How to vote | How to run for office | Ballot measures |
| Government |
Who represents me? | U.S. President | U.S. Congress | Federal courts | State executives | State legislature | State and local courts | Counties | Cities | School districts | Public policy |
