HB1956

The Arkansas Nighttime Environment Protection Act establishes regulations for new or replacement outdoor lighting systems installed by state agencies, counties, municipalities, and investor-owned utilities. The bill mandates the use of 'full cutoff' fixtures to minimize light pollution, glare, and light trespass, and sets specific color temperature limits (3,000 K for residential areas and 4,000 K for other areas). It requires lighting levels to adhere to standards established by the Illuminating Engineering Society or the U.S. Department of Transportation as of January 1, 2025. Exemptions are provided for specific cases such as sports facilities, historic sites, correctional facilities, and instances where a governing body finds a specific project cost-prohibitive. Furthermore, the bill allows public utilities to recover compliance costs from ratepayers through an interim surcharge approved by the Arkansas Public Service Commission. The stated goal is to promote public safety, conserve energy, reduce taxpayer costs, and protect human and wildlife health.