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Read. Follow. Verify.Massachusetts Bill Restricts State and Municipal Outdoor Lighting to Reduce Light Pollution and Conserve Energy
Last action · June 25, 2026: New draft substituted, see S3145Sponsors: Cynthia Creem and 5 others
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What This Bill Would Do
By January 1, 2026, the Department of Energy Resources must establish regulations requiring new permanent outdoor lighting fixtures using state or municipal funds to meet strict shielding, color temperature, and brightness standards. The measure mandates that roadway, parking lot, and building-mounted fixtures be fully shielded to minimize glare, , and , with color temperatures capped at 3000 K. It also directs the Department of Transportation to report on existing roadway lighting costs and requires the Department of Public Utilities to develop a new electricity rate for low-wattage unmetered lights.
State and local public agencies face new technical mandates and fixture limitations when purchasing or installing outdoor lighting for public buildings, roadways, and parks. The rules alter purchasing specifications for contractors and establish specific color and brightness thresholds for public illumination projects.
- Outdoor lighting standards and dark-sky preservation policies have gained increased attention across states seeking to reduce energy consumption and preserve nighttime visibility. context
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Department of Energy Resources
Must promulgate new statewide regulations for outdoor lighting by January 1, 2026.
Massachusetts Department of Transportation
Consulted on regulations and required to review, analyze, and report on existing roadway lighting and operational costs.
Department of Public Utilities
Must develop a new utility rate for unmetered low-wattage lighting fixtures.
Municipalities within the commonwealth
Must comply with new restrictions when using municipal funds to install or operate permanent outdoor lighting.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
What outdoor lighting fixtures are affected by the new regulations?
Are there exemptions for historical structures or athletic fields?
What is the deadline for the state departments to take action?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.
Procedural history
8 actions- Jun 25, 2026SenateNew draft substituted, see S3145
- Jun 25, 2026SenateRead second
- Jun 25, 2026SenateRules suspended
- Dec 11, 2025SenateCommitteeBill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on Senate Ways and Means
- Sep 25, 2025JointHearing rescheduled to 09/25/2025 from 01:00 PM-04:30 PM in A-1 and Virtual<br> <span style="color: blue; font-style: italic;">Hearing updated to New End Time</span>
- Sep 15, 2025JointHearing scheduled for 09/25/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in A-1
Show 2 earlier actions
- Feb 27, 2025HouseHouse concurred
- Feb 27, 2025SenateCommitteeReferred to the committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Show 1 more sponsor
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Statewide Regulation of Outdoor Lighting
The measure shifts oversight of public lighting efficiency and light pollution from localized choices to coordinated state agency regulations.
Connected Entities
Sources
malegislature.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance60How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy25Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz30Current news / social attention level
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