Florida voters could have the chance to vote on a right to clean water amendment in the 2024 election. The Florida Rights of Nature Network (the main inspiration for the Rights of Nature Initiative) is collecting signatures to get the amendment on the ballot. The amendment would create a fundamental right to clean water for all state residents and allow individuals, businesses, and other organizations to take legal action against any state agency that fails to protect water resources.
The amendment was proposed in response to a 2021 law passed by the Florida legislature that took away the right of local governments to protect water resources. The law was passed after several local governments in Florida passed ordinances that banned fracking and other oil and gas drilling activities.
According to Joseph Bonasia, chair of the Florida Rights of Nature Network, “It was that preemption that compelled us to launch this effort. If the Legislature isn’t going to let us work on water quality issues at the local level, then we have to go over the Legislature’s head and imbed this right at the constitutional level.”
The organizers of the amendment need to gather nearly 900,000 signatures to get it on the ballot. Bonasia hopes to reach that goal by the end of December in order to ensure verification before the February 1st deadline. If they are successful, the amendment would be voted on by Florida voters in November 2024.
Why is this important?
Clean water is essential for human life and health. It is also essential for the environment and the economy. Florida has a long history of water pollution problems, and the state’s water resources are under increasing pressure from climate change and population growth.
The right to clean water amendment would give Floridians a powerful tool to protect their water resources. It would also send a strong message to the state government that Floridians value their water and expect it to be protected.
What can you do?
If you live in Florida, you can help the Florida Rights of Nature Network get the right to clean water amendment on the ballot by signing their ballot petition and encouraging your friends and family to do the same. Even if you don’t live in Florida, you can donate to the campaign to help them collect signatures and get the word out about the amendment.
The petition can be found at florida-right-to-cleanwater.org.
Read more and listen at WQCS (NPR): As Deadline Nears, Roughly 800,000 Signatures Still Needed to Get the Proposed ‘Right to Clean Water’ Amendment on the Ballot Next Year, by Kevin Kerrigan, September 21, 2023.