Support for a Green Amendment to the Nebraska Constitution

At the state level, a bill was introduced into the 2025 Nebraska Legislative session by Senator George Dungan, LR22CA, for a constitutional amendment to provide that people have the right to a clean and healthy natural environment and that the state and political subdivisions shall serve as trustee of the natural resources of Nebraska. When passed, the amendment would be submitted to the electors (Nebraska voters) for their decision (for or against) enactment. As the session closed the bill had not come out of committee, and so LR225 was introduced and passed which called for an interim study to be done before the 2026 legislative session by the Natural Resources Committee. ECL’s support for this constitutional amendment was submitted to each of the Committee members on 9/19/2025 as attached.  

On behalf of the Nebraska Elder Climate Legacy (ECL) Initiative, a Nebraska registered nonprofit organization, I write to express our full support for LR 225 for examining  the need for and implementation of a Green Amendment and the implications of adopting LR22CA.

As Nebraska elders, we see the future through the eyes of our own children and grandchildren, and their generations both present and future. And we believe that they, and all people, have a right to a clean and healthy natural environment. This is a most basic human right that cannot be merely assumed to exist without the state and each subdivision thereof serving as trustee of those precious natural resources. Given Nebraska’s amazing wealth of abundant natural resources, that role of sound stewardship is more critical in Nebraska than in virtually any other state. Therefore, we believe Nebraska should follow in the footsteps of seven other states which already have or are in the process of implementing constitutional amendments as such. (Those states are Montana, New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Hawaii.)  

Some would argue this is but one more example of government overreach and excessive regulation that hinders economic progress, something they want freedom from. But, quite the contrary, good stewardship of natural resources contributes to longer-term economic resiliency with a market economy that better reflects the well-being of both the individual and the collective community. In short, the private sector prospers along with the public sector, experiencing the freedom to prosper environmentally AND economically. That is the vision we elders have for Nebraska.

There is urgency for Nebraskans and their elected representatives to act boldly given the mounting economic constraints. For example, a recent regional study found rates of economic growth of the state’s two largest metro areas lag seriously behind their regional metro cohorts. A significant underlying reason is inadequate work force numbers for firms to consider locating and/or expanding in the state. Moreover, with younger adults exiting the state at a far greater rate than those relocating to Nebraska, it becomes a vicious cycle. Here is where quality-of-life aspects rank high on the list of younger households. And for Nebraska to embrace as a constitutional right for all residents to a better environment and a safer, healthier, and more livable future would address just that! Nebraska—the good life! And we mean it!   

In sum, as our elected officials, we urge you to thoughtfully prescribe amending the constitution uniquely for Nebraska, and then present for the people to decide.