H-0040.1
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 4210
State of Washington 68th Legislature 2024 Regular Session
By Representatives Lekanoff, Pollet, and Ramel
Read first time 01/22/24. Referred to Committee on Environment &
Energy.
1 BE IT RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
2 STATE OF WASHINGTON, IN LEGISLATIVE SESSION ASSEMBLED:
3 THAT, At the next general election to be held in this state the
4 secretary of state shall submit to the qualified voters of the state
5 for their approval and ratification, or rejection, an amendment to
6 Article I of the Constitution of the state of Washington by adding a
7 new section to read as follows:
8 Article I, section . . .. (a) The people of the state, including
9 future generations, have the right to a clean and healthy
10 environment, including pure water, clean air, healthy ecosystems, and
11 a stable climate, and to the preservation of the natural, cultural,
12 scenic, and healthful qualities of the environment.
13 (b) The state, including each political subdivision of the state,
14 shall serve as trustee of the natural resources of the state, among
15 them its waters, air, flora, fauna, soils, and climate. The state,
16 including each political subdivision of the state, shall conserve,
17 protect, and maintain these resources for the benefit of all the
18 people, including generations yet to come.
19 (c) The rights stated in this section are inherent, inalienable,
20 and indefeasible, are among those rights reserved to all the people,
21 and are on par with other protected inalienable rights. The state,
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1 including each political subdivision of the state, shall equitably
2 protect these rights for all people regardless of their race,
3 ethnicity, tribal membership status, gender, geography, or wealth,
4 and shall act with prudence, loyalty, and impartiality in fulfilling
5 its trustee obligations. The provisions of this section are self-
6 executing.
7 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the secretary of state shall cause
8 notice of this constitutional amendment to be published at least four
9 times during the four weeks next preceding the election in every
10 legal newspaper in the state.
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