A proposed New York State law aimed at reducing light pollution could create a real problem for the state’s millions of Jews, particularly on Shabbos and Yom Tov.

The “Dark Skies Protection Act,” introduced in the State Senate by Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal, would require most outdoor lights across New York to shut off between 11 pm and sunrise starting January 1, 2028.

The legislation covers residential floodlights, building uplighting, commercial spotlights, and billboards, with the goal of preserving dark skies while “promoting safety for people, birds and other wildlife, conserving energy and reducing our carbon footprint.”

The bill includes exemptions for airports, highways, emergency services, seasonal decorative lights, and small low-wattage fixtures. For all other outdoor lights, the only workaround is installing motion-activated fixtures that shut off within 15 minutes.

For the frum community, motion-sensor lights pose a problem. Triggering a light on Shabbos or Yom Tov raises serious halachic concerns, meaning hundreds of thousands of frum homeowners across New York would have no compliant way to keep their outdoor lights on. Anyone walking in and out of their home on a Friday night or Yom Tov would simply be left in the dark.

Moreover, triggering the motion-sensing light of neighbors on dark streets – where there is a real benefit to having the light (nicha lei) – poses a serious Shabbos issue.

A concerned Crown Heights resident raised the issue with Assemblyman Simcha Eichenstein, following his successful effort last year around Shabbos-related sanitation regulations.

Eichenstein’s office responded: “We have flagged this for our legislative team in Albany so they can keep an eye on this proposed legislation.”

The bill still requires passage in both the State Senate and Assembly before reaching the governor’s desk, but advocates say it’s worth getting ahead of now.