Arizona Overview

What is a Green Amendment?

Green Amendments are self executing provisions added to the bill of rights section of a constitution that recognize and protect the rights of all people, including future generations, to pure water, clean air, a stable climate, and healthy environments.

What’s Happening in Arizona?

Arizona is fortunate to have a proactive champion looking to advance a Green Amendment. In 2025 and 2026 that champion is AZ Senator Lauren Kuby. Senator Kuby is proposing strong Green Amendment language that is focused on the interests and needs of Arizona communities.

Senator Lauren Kuby is joined by 12 colleagues who are cosponsoring the proposal, including Senators Lela Alston, Denise “Mitzi” Epstein, Rosanna Gabaldón, Theresa Hatathlie, Catherine Miranda, Analise Ortiz, Priya Sundareshan, and Representatives Brian Garcia, Nancy Gutierrez, Aaron Márquez, Mariana Sandoval, Stephanie Stahl Hamilton.

What is needed now is grassroots engagement and support to help spread the word and to secure community engagement.  If you are interested in being a part of the effort, or have any questions, please get in touch with us.

The proposed Arizona Green Amendment – filed as SCR1017 –  would be added to the state constitution’s Bill of Rights and would read:

Right to clean and healthy environment

A. Each person has an inherent and inalienable right to a clean and healthy environment, including all of the following:

1. 1. Clean water.
   2. Clean air.
   3. Healthy ecosystems.
   4. A safe climate.
   5. The preservation of the natural, cultural and healthful qualities of the environment.

B. The rights prescribed in subsection A of this section belong to both present and future generations. This state and each political subdivision of this state shall protect and may not infringe on these rights.

C. This state’s natural resources, including its waters, air, flora, fauna, and climate, are the common property of all the people, including present and future generations. This state and each political subdivision of this state shall do all of the following:

1. 1. Serve as trustees of the natural resources.
   2. Conserve, protect and maintain the natural resources for the benefit of all the people.
   3. Secure a safe and stable climate system for all people including future generations.
   4. Maie it a high priority to secure a safe climate system and provide clean, renewable and safe energy for all communities. This priority and any action commenced to further this priority is a compelling state interest.

D. This section and the rights and obligations prescribed in this section are self-executing.

The History of Arizona’s Green Amendment effort

It was on January 27, 2022, when AZ Senator Juan Mendez first proposed a constitutional Green Amendment be added to the state constitution. Joining Senator Mendez in support have been state Senators Quezada Marton and Raquel Teran, and state Representatives Richard Andrade, Andrea Dalessandro,  Melody Hernandez, Sarah Liguori, Athena Salman, and Christian Solorio.  

Every year since the Arizona Green Amendment has been re-proposed.  And while the amendment has never progressed far in the constitutional amendment process, the fact that it remains alive with constant re-proposal demonstrates there is energy for constitutional environmental rights in the state.  It’s just about finding the right moment to advance it.

While the amendment has been progressing slowly, it got some amazing press attention, demonstrating there is interest in constitutional environmental rights protection for the people of Arizona.