The proposed resolution seeks to amend the Constitution of the State to establish an individual right for each resident to access clean and healthy air, water, soil, ecosystems, and a safe and stable climate, thereby promoting public health, safety, and general welfare. This amendment would classify these environmental rights as inalienable, allowing residents to directly invoke and enforce them. Additionally, the state would be prohibited from unreasonably infringing upon these rights and would be required to make reasonable efforts to protect them equitably for all residents. The state would also have obligations to conserve, manage, and maintain its natural resources, ensuring that no significant environmental degradation occurs.

If the resolution is approved by at least three-quarters of the General Assembly, it will be placed on the ballot for the November 2026 general election. The ballot will ask voters whether they support the constitutional amendment that grants these environmental rights and imposes obligations on the state. Should the amendment pass in the election, it will become part of the state constitution. The resolution is expected to incur a one-time printing cost of $35,000 for the Secretary of the State, which may shift to a later fiscal year if the necessary votes are not secured.