Oregon Activists Launch Campaign to Secure Constitutional Right to Clean Environment Amid Legislative Stagnation
A campaign to promote an amendment to the Oregon Constitution calling for the right of every resident to a clean, safe, and healthy environment is being launched at an event in the Salem Capitol Mall at lunchtime today.
The organizers are members of the Oregon Coalition for an Environmental Rights Amendment (OCERA), which is responding to what they term ‘Oregon’s declining environmental health and long-standing legislative inaction.’
Constitutional Change Remains Stalled Despite Legislative Backing
The organization expresses criticism for the delay of the Oregon Senate Joint Resolution 28 (SJR28), which proposes an amendment to the Constitution to establish a right to a clean, safe, and healthy environment, but remains stalled despite strong legislative backing.
A public hearing was held on 26 March 2025, and of the 50 people registered to address the hearing, 39 were in favor. Written testimony followed the same pattern, with 253 of the 292 favoring the amendment.
OCERA says despite the support, the bill has not been scheduled for a work session.
OCERA Files Citizen Initiative to Collect Signatures Supporting the Amendment
OCERA will be filing a citizen initiative with the Oregon Division of Elections to begin collecting signatures for the proposed amendment to the constitution.
In a news release, OCERA points to a ‘systematic failure to protect Oregon’s environment and public health’ by referring to the US News & World Report of 2024, which ranks Oregon 35th nationwide, 50th for pollution-related health risks, 46th for pollution, and 44th for natural environment.
Organizers say that the Oregon Legislature has not addressed ‘dangerously high concentrations of nitrates in the groundwater of Morrow and Umatilla Counties’ for 30 years, placing communities at risk.
Prioritizing Profits Over People
Organizers accuse the Legislature of prioritizing profits over people and shifting the cost of environmental degradation onto taxpayers.
The organization also claims that without legal and regulatory frameworks, the public is left vulnerable.
OCERA says a constitutional amendment will clear the way for a ‘legal standard to prioritize public health, safety, and environmental integrity over private gain or political compromise.’ It will also enable Oregonians to defend themselves and their communities ‘when government-sanctioned pollution threatens their health and environment.’
OCERA points out that some states – Hawaii, Montana, New York, and Pennsylvania – have already adopted similar legislation into their constitutions, securing ‘environmental justice, regulatory accountability, and clean water protections for their citizens.’