Nick Reisman reports for State of Politics that lawmakers January 24 passed a state constitutional amendment intended to solidify an expansive set of rights for all New Yorkers. The measure was approved by the legislature with a package of bills meant to strengthen abortion rights and could have a wide-ranging impact. Supporters pressed for the amendment in the wake of the Dobbs ruling that overturned the landmark abortion case Roe v. Wade at the U.S. Supreme Court. Opponents, however, contend the parameters of the amendment are too broad and could hurt religious institutions. With the amendment's second legislative passage, voters will now have the final say over whether it is added to the constitution in a referendum planned for 2024. "We need to upgrade our constitution from 1938 to reflect that the world we're living in is very different," said state Senator Liz Krueger. Donna Lieberman of the New York Civil Liberties Union said of the measure, "It sends a message to New York that we're here to send up for women, for LGBTQ people, for members of ethics minorities, for equality." Republicans, including state Assemblymember Chris Tague, are skeptical about the amendment and are concerned about its effect. "Those of us who take our faith and our religion very seriously are very concerned about lawsuits against the church or against a certain faith or religion," Tague said. State Senator George Borrello said, "Unfortunately, like so many pieces of legislation, it goes too far. It's very vague, it's very broad. In the end, my biggest concern is it will codify late-term abortions into the New York state constitution." Read the full story at nystateofpolitics [dot] com.