Bill > A08644

This bill, known as the "dark skies protection act", regulates outdoor night lighting in New York to preserve and enhance the state's dark sky. The key provisions of the bill include: 1. Requiring all outdoor lighting fixtures to be shielded by January 1, 2025 to protect against light pollution of the night sky, with some exemptions for certain types of lighting like emergency lighting, navigational systems, and low-wattage fixtures. 2. Prohibiting the illumination of outdoor recreational facilities between 11 PM and 5 AM, except for national/international tournaments or to conclude an activity already in progress before 11 PM. 3. Allowing municipalities to adopt more stringent light pollution regulations than the state law, which would then preempt the state's provisions. 4. Establishing civil penalties for violations, with higher fines for non-residential properties compared to one- to four-family dwellings. 5. Directing the state Department of Environmental Conservation to develop educational materials and provide information to the public on complying with the new requirements.