What's happening
This bill amends state policy to include preserving the unique qualities of the nighttime sky as part of environmental conservation.
Why it matters
Expanding environmental conservation to include nighttime skies. acknowledges the growing problem of light pollution and its effects on ecosystems, human health, and quality of life, signaling that darkness itself is a resource to be protected.
By explicitly naming the nighttime sky as a 'unique quality' to preserve in state parks, farms, forested land, and open spaces. , the bill could drive future regulations or funding priorities—potentially affecting outdoor lighting standards, land use planning, and tourism (such as stargazing or astronomy-related activities).
Incorporating the nighttime sky into state policy elevates its importance alongside air, water, and land. , laying groundwork for more comprehensive environmental stewardship that considers not just what we see during the day, but also what we lose at night due to urbanization and development.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Protect Night Sky Views
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
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
906
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY (Prefiled)
January 8, 2025
Introduced by M. of A. ROSENTHAL -- read once and referred to the Committee on Environmental Conservation
AN ACT to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to the state 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] people 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.
LBD03110-01-5
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.