Florida (USA) State Constitutional Amendment: right to clean water

Summary

In 2021, the a political action committee FL5.org drafted a constitutional amendment for the state of Florida recognizing Floridians’ rights to clean water and the rights of all waters in Florida to exist, flow, be free from pollution, and maintain a healthy ecosystem. In April 2022, a second draft amendment was submitted that removed the language on Florida waters’ inherent right to exist, but maintains the “fundamental right to clean and healthy waters,” and gives legal standing to residents, non-governmental organizations, or government entities to sue in order to enforce or defend such rights. Generally speaking, this harm includes water pollution and anything that disrupts the water’s natural flow or ecological systems.

The Florida Rights of Nature Network is currently trying to get the proposed constitutional amendment on the general ballot. They have until the end of 2023 to submit approximately 900,000 verified petition signatures to qualify for the 2024 ballot, where voters will decide whether to amend the Florida Constitution.

If successful, the Florida Right to Clean Water Initiative (Initiative #22-02) may appear on the ballot in Florida as an initiated constitutional amendment on November 5, 2024.