What's happening
This bill amends environmental conservation law to recognize preserving the nighttime sky as a state policy and environmental priority.
Why it matters
Expands the definition of environmental quality. to explicitly include the nighttime sky, signaling that light pollution and sky visibility are now considered important factors in environmental health and aesthetics.
Broadens protection to additional areas. , not just iconic preserves like the Adirondacks and Catskills, but also state parks, farms, forests, and general open spaces, potentially affecting land-use policies and development standards across New York.
Lays groundwork for future regulations or initiatives. aimed at controlling artificial light, which could impact businesses, municipalities, and individuals by encouraging or requiring changes in lighting practices to protect night sky visibility.
Highlights the growing recognition of the nighttime sky as a cultural, ecological, and scientific resource. , which may influence education, tourism, wildlife conservation, and community planning efforts statewide.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Protect Nighttime Sky Views
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
4 Multi-sponsors
History
- Referred to environmental conservation
- Referred to environmental conservation
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1109
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 14, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. L. ROSENTHAL, GOTTFRIED, GALEF, DINOWITZ, LUPAR- DO, CAHILL -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. COOK, GLICK, ORTIZ, PAULIN -- read once and referred to the Committee on Environmental Conservation
AN ACT to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to stating policy relating to preserving the unique qualities of the nighttime sky
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 3 of section 1-0101 of the environmental conservation law is amended to read as follows:
3. It shall further be the policy of the state to foster, promote, create and maintain conditions under which man and nature can thrive in harmony with each other, and achieve social, economic and technological progress for present and future generations by:
a. Assuring surroundings including the nighttime sky which are healthful and aesthetically pleasing;
b. Guaranteeing that the widest range of beneficial uses of the environment is attained without risk to health or safety, unnecessary degradation or other undesirable or unintended consequences;
c. Promoting patterns of development and technology which minimize adverse impact on the environment;
d. Preserving the unique qualities including the nighttime sky of special resources such as the Adirondack and Catskill forest preserves and of state parks, farms and forested land and other open space;
e. Providing that care is taken for the air, water and other resources that are shared with the other states of the United States and with Canada in the manner of a good neighbor.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02467-01-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.