SF 52: Outdoor Lighting
2007 General Session

Sponsor: Sen. Cale Case (R-S25, Lander); co-sponsors Sens. Bruce Burns (R-S21, Sheridan), Ken Decaria (D-S15, Evanston), Tony Ross (R-S4, Cheyenne) and Reps. Floyd Esquibel (D-H44, Cheyenne), Liz Gentile (D-H36, Evansville), Pete Illoway (R-H42, Cheyenne), Dave Zwonitzer (R-H2, Cheyenne)

SF 52 would have allowed municipalities to adopt ordinances to regulate outdoor electrical lighting to reduce light pollution and light trespass.

The Legislature considered a similar bill in 2003, which was defeated in the Senate on a tie vote.

Proponents of SF 52 were concerned about light pollution that leads to diminishing night sky viewing. They noted that satellite images dramatically show that a third or more of outdoor lighting escapes upward into the night sky. Proponents also noted that more efficient, and less polluting, lighting conserves both energy and money.

The Senate Corporations, Elections and Political Subdivisions Committee passed SF 52, 3-2. Senators Cale Case (R-S25, Lander), Ken Decaria (D-S15, Evanston) and Charlie Scott (R-S30, Casper) voted in favor of the bill. Senators Stan Cooper (R-S14, Kemmerer) and Grant Larson (R-S17, Jackson) voted against the bill.

SF 52 was not scheduled for floor debate by the Senate Committee of the Whole before the deadline for action, so the bill died without a vote of the full Senate.

INTRODUCED