NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A739
SPONSOR: Rosenthal TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the general municipal law, in relation to the prepara-
tion and distribution of a model comprehensive outdoor lighting ordi-
nance
PURPOSE:
This bill encourages the management of outdoor night lighting to protect
the nighttime environment, enhance safety and security, and conserve
energy.
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section one amends the general municipal law by adding a new section
137.
Section two sets forth the effective date.
JUSTIFICATION:
This bill is intended to limit excessive outdoor illumination. Exces-
sive illumination wastes energy, intrudes on the privacy of others,
creates glare which reduces the effect of lighting, deteriorates the
natural nighttime environment, and reduces the ability for astronomical
observation. Outdoor lighting is used to illuminate roadways, parking
lots, yards, sidewalks, public meeting areas, signs, work sites and
buildings. When well designed, it improves visibility, adds an element
of safety and creates a sense of security, while at the same time mini-
mizing energy use and operating costs. If, however, it is not well
designed it can be costly, inefficient, counterproductive, and harmful
to the nighttime environment.
Much of the outdoor lighting in use today wastes energy because it is
poorly designed. This waste results in both higher costs for providing
such lighting and increased pollution from the power plants that produce
the wasted electricity. It is conservatively estimated that $3 to $4.5
billion a year is wasted in the United States in the unintended lighting
of the sky rather than the streets, walkways, and outdoor public spaces
which the light was intended to illuminate. In addition to wasting ener-
gy, poorly designed lighting often causes blinding glare. Glare occurs
when you see light directly from a fixture or bulb. The glare . from
poorly designed or positioned lighting hampers the vision of drivers and
pedestrians, reducing its effectiveness and creating a hazard rather
than increasing safety. It shines onto neighboring properties and into
nearby residences, reducing privacy, hindering sleep, and diminishing
the beauty of the natural surroundings in areas far removed from the
source of such lighting. A large portion of such lighting shines direct-
ly upward, creating the sky glow above population centers, adversely
affecting the view of the night sky.
In addition to lowering the cost of outdoor lighting, limiting sky glow
will allow future generations to enjoy the beauty of the stars, and to
study and learn from or simply marvel at the wonders of the night sky.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2023-24: A.303 - Referred to Local Governments
2021-22: A.2250 - Referred to Local Governments
2019-20: A.824 - Referred to Local Governments
2017-18: A.2601 - Referred to Local Governments
2015-16: A.3873 - Referred to Local Governments; S.2594 - Referred to
Local Government
2013-14: A.994 - Referred to Local Governments; S.4225 - Referred to
Local Government
2011-12: A.7901 - Referred to Local Governments; S.4189 - Referred to
Local Government
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None to the State.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This bill shall take effect immediately.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
739
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY(Prefiled)
January 8, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. ROSENTHAL -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Local Governments
AN ACT to amend the general municipal law, in relation to the prepara-
tion and distribution of a model comprehensive outdoor lighting ordi-
nance
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The general municipal law is amended by adding a new
2 section 137 to read as follows:
3 § 137. Model comprehensive outdoor lighting ordinance. The secretary
4 of state, in consultation with the New York state energy research and
5 development authority, the commissioner of transportation and the
6 commissioner of general services, shall prepare or cause to be prepared
7 and distributed to cities, towns and villages a model comprehensive
8 outdoor lighting ordinance for the purpose of saving energy, reducing
9 unnecessary glare and reducing unnecessary sky glow. For purposes of
10 this section, the term "glare" shall mean light emitted by a luminaire
11 that causes reduced visibility or momentary blindness by shining direct-
12 ly into the eyes of the viewer; and the term "sky glow" shall mean the
13 illumination of the nighttime sky that results from upward shining
14 light, which is reflected off molecules and particles of dirt and mois-
15 ture in the atmosphere.
16 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02268-01-5
