“California’s Green Amendment Delayed: What’s Next for Environmental Rights?”

A contentious proposal to amend California’s Constitution to enshrine environmental rights for all citizens has been delayed for at least another year after it failed to gain traction ahead of a looming deadline.

Assembly Constitutional Amendment 16 (ACA 16), also known as the green amendment, aimed to add a line to the state Constitution’s Declaration of Rights affirming that all people “shall have a right to clean air and water and a healthy environment.”

As of the start of this week, the proposal had not yet made it through the state Assembly or moved into the state Senate. Both houses would need to pass the proposal by June 27 in order to get it on voter ballots this fall.

Assemblymember Isaac G. Bryan (D-Los Angeles), the bill’s author, decided to hold it until next year to strengthen its language and improve its chances of success. This means that the amendment wouldn’t go into effect until 2026, if it passes.

“We simply don’t have enough time this election cycle to craft the comprehensive and inspired amendment language California deserves,” Bryan said in a post on the social media site X. “We will keep working and building for the climate justice our communities need.”

The proposal had garnered support from Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas (D-Hollister) and the editorial board of the Los Angeles Times, which endorsed the proposal in April. However, it also faced opposition from the California Chamber of Commerce, which labeled it a “job killer” and raised concerns about its potential negative impacts on housing development, infrastructure, and clean energy projects.

Despite the delay, California Environmental Voters, an advocacy group supporting the proposal, expressed understanding for the decision given the time constraints. The group emphasized the need for more action and leadership on environmental issues.

Bryan mentioned that he has been studying similar amendments from other states that have already added environmental rights clauses to their constitutions. States like Pennsylvania, Montana, and New York have already enshrined similar language in their constitutions.

The postponement of the amendment reflects a desire for California to prioritize environmental protections and hold powerful entities accountable. Bryan emphasized the importance of ensuring that California remains proactive in safeguarding its environmental rights, especially in the face of potential federal policy shifts.

Overall, the delay in passing ACA 16 underscores the ongoing debate surrounding environmental rights and the need for comprehensive and thoughtful legislation to address these critical issues.