JOINT RESOLUTION TO APPROVE AND PUBLISH AND SUBMIT TO THE ELECTORS A PROPOSITION OF AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION -- GREEN AMENDMENT (Proposes a constitutional amendment to Article 1 providing for a right to clean air, soil, climate, and the environment’s natural values.)

S2225

2026 -- S 2225
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
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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 CONSTITUTION -- GREEN AMENDMENT

Introduced By:
Senator V. Susan Sosnowski

Date Introduced:
January 23, 2026

Referred To:
Senate Environment & Agriculture
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RESOLVED, That a majority of all members elected to each house of the general
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assembly voting therefor, the following amendment to the Constitution of the state be proposed to
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the qualified electors of the state in accordance with the provisions of Article XIV of the
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Constitution, for their approval, and that it adds an additional section to Article 1, which is hereby
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amended, effective January 1, 2027, to read as follows:
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ARTICLE I
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DECLARATION OF CERTAIN CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS AND PRINCIPLES
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SECTION 25. Green amendment.
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All people in the State of Rhode Island have an inherent, inalienable, indefeasible, and
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self-executing right to clean air and water, healthy soil, a safe climate, and to the preservation of
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the natural and healthful values of our environment. The state shall serve as trustee of the natural
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resources of Rhode Island, and shall conserve, protect, and maintain these resources for the
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benefit of all the people, including both present and future generations. The state shall not
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infringe upon these rights and shall protect these rights and Rhode Island’s natural resources
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equitably for all people regardless of race, ethnicity, gender or socioeconomics.
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RESOLVED, That this proposition of amendment shall amend Article 1 as aforesaid; and
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be it further
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RESOLVED, That said proposition of amendment shall be submitted to the electors for
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their approval or rejection at the next statewide general election. The voting places in the several

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cities and towns shall be kept open during the hours required by law for voting therein for general
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officers of the state; and be it further
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RESOLVED, That the secretary of state shall cause the said proposition of amendments
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to be published as a part of this resolution in the newspapers of the state prior to the date of the
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said meetings of the said electors; and the said proposition shall be inserted in the warrants or
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notices to be issued previous to said meetings of the electors for the purpose of warning the town,
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ward, or district meetings, and said proposition shall be read by the town, ward, or district
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meetings to be held as aforesaid; and be it further
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RESOLVED, That the town, ward, and district meetings to be held aforesaid shall be
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warned, and the list of voters shall be canvassed and made up, and the said town, ward, and
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district meetings shall be conducted in the same manner as now provided by law for the town,
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ward, and district meetings for the election of general officers of the state.
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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 CONSTITUTION -- GREEN AMENDMENT
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This joint resolution would propose to the voters of the state a constitutional amendment
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to Article 1 which would provide all people in the state would have an inherent, inalienable,
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indefeasible, and self-executing right to clean air, health and uncontaminated soil, a life
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supporting climate, and the preservation of the environment's natural, scenic, and recreational
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values.
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