Constitutional Amendments - Proposes adding a provision establishing the right to clean air, pure water, and the preservation of the natural, scenic, historic, and esthetic values of the state's environment. -

HJR 74 proposes adding a new constitutional right to Tennessee's Constitution, guaranteeing every resident the right to clean air, pure water, and the preservation of natural, scenic, historic, and esthetic environmental values. It declares Tennessee's public natural resources as the common property of all people - including future generations - and requires the state to act as a trustee to conserve and maintain them for everyone's benefit. This resolution, currently under review by the Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee, must be approved by the legislature and then ratified by voters to become part of the state constitution. If adopted, it would establish a foundational environmental right that could influence future state policies and legal interpretations.