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Healthy Environment Rights Amendment (HEAT)

Everyone should have the right to a healthy environment: about the movement to enshrine this right in the Oregon State Constitution

By TAO members Cat Trenga (Portland, OR) and Alexandra Stears (Wilsonville, OR)

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Upcoming Stewards United events, services and opportunities include:

  • The youth-led Federal Climate Amendment Institute  is planning a youth event soon, likely to be held at the University of Oregon. Interested?
  • Stewards United will be setting up social media accounts soon. Would you like to help administer / moderate?
  • Stewards United can help create materials you can use when tabling at events that require 501(c)(3)-friendly content! How can we help?
  • Stewards United is working with the Civics Learning Project to help educate students across the state about these issues. Care to learn more?
  • Stewards United is an “evergreen” organization to continue the movement once the amendment is enacted. We have a multi-year Strategy Plan and a slew of ideas for projects that will help to raise awareness. Who wants to help us apply for grants?

The Stewards United team meets on Mondays at 4 pm. Email team@stewardsunited.org for more information if you’re interested in joining.

If you missed any of the Listening Tours and are interested in sharing your experience of environmental harm or change, you can use OCERA’s webform to submit your story. Stories will be accepted through the end of October.

The proposed amendment language is in the process of being finalized by the OCERA and Our Children’s Trust legal teams before it is submitted to the Secretary of State’s office for approval. Once that is done the signature-gathering phase will commence.

Meanwhile, the Third Act Oregon Healthy Environment Action Team (HEAT) is hosting educational tabling events at farmers markets throughout the greater Portland area, including the Woodstock Farmers Market. These events help educate the public about the Environmental Rights Amendments, grow the Third Act Oregon and OCERA mailing lists, and recruit volunteers for signature gathering and other campaign activities leading up to the 2028 ballot measure.

If you are interested in joining the Third Act Oregon HEAT working with OCERA on this effort, please contact oregon@thirdact.org.

Background

Oregonians have rights protected by our state constitution, but rights to clean air and water are not among them. Third Act Oregon supports the effort to enshrine our right to a healthy environment in the Oregon Constitution. This campaign is led by coalition of like-minded groups organized by OCERA (Oregon Coalition for the Environmental Rights Act).

This page explains the amendment, the timeline and strategy for passing it, and how you can help.

Why amend Oregon’s Constitution?

  • The regulations intended to protect our ability to breathe healthy air and drink clean water are not safe from the pressures of corporate interests and changing governments.
  • We need a better way to ensure that generations to come can live in a healthy environment in Oregon.
  • Other states—such as Montana, Pennsylvania, Hawaii—have passed similar amendments and these have been useful in preventing and responding to environmental harm.

What will this amendment do?

  • Allows Oregonians to hold the state accountable for policies and permits that harm the environment.
  • Promotes responsible governance to prioritize public health and safety over short term private profit.
  • Makes it possible to sue the state—not business or industry—for decisions that cause environmental harm.
  • Does not add taxes or fines for farms or businesses.

How will we accomplish this?

  • Mid-2026: Listening Tour: OCERA will hold events to allow diverse groups of Oregonians to learn about the amendment and share their thoughts, as well as their experiences with environmental harms – such as wildfires, water pollution, and more.
  • By June 2026: OCERA will submit this initiative to the state for the drafting of a ballot title
  • Late 2026 to June 2028: Gather signatures for citizen referral to November 2028 ballot and educate voters about the amendment.

How can you help?

  • Participate in a Listening Tour session.
  • Collect signatures for the citizen petition to refer this to the November 2028 ballot.
  • Share information about this proposed amendment with other voters in Oregon.

The right to a clean and healthy environment is fundamental. We can protect that right for our children, grandchildren, and generations to come.

 

HEAT (Healthy Environment Action Team) Team leaders: Amy Schauer, Mary Liedel, Alexandra Stears, Margaret Sherraden.

Contact them at oregon@thirdact.org.

Disclaimer: Working Groups are volunteer-run groups organized by affinity or by geographic location. Working Groups engage in campaign activities, communicate with their Working Group volunteers, and maintain the content on their Working Group webpages.