Bill > S09637

This bill, known as the "dark skies protection act," aims to regulate outdoor night lighting to preserve the state's dark sky, enhance safety for people and wildlife, conserve energy, and maintain the aesthetic quality of the night sky. It mandates that all outdoor lighting fixtures, including those for residential, commercial, industrial, and municipal use, must be "shielded" – meaning they direct light downwards and below a horizontal plane – starting January 1, 2028. Non-compliant fixtures are permitted if they are turned off between 11 p.m. and sunrise or are motion-activated with automatic shutoff. The bill also restricts illumination of outdoor recreational facilities between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m., with exceptions for ongoing events. Several exemptions are provided, including for navigational lighting, worker safety, emergency lighting, certain highway and construction lighting, and specific types of smaller or decorative lights, with provisions for New York City and culturally or historically significant lighting. Importantly, this state law will not apply in any "municipality" (county, city, town, or village) that already has local laws or ordinances restricting light pollution that are as strict or stricter than this act. The Department of Environmental Conservation will be responsible for developing educational materials and providing information on compliance.