Arkansas Nighttime Environment Protection bill introduced into Arkansas House

Today Arkansas Representative Stephen Meeks of Greenbrier introduced into the Arkansas General Assembly House Bill 1568, which is entitled the "Arkansas Nighttime Environment Protection Act". If enacted into law HB 1568 would "regulate outdoor lighting fixtures to promote safety, conserve energy, save tax dollars, and preserve the state's natural nighttime environment for health and welfare of our citizens, our wildlife, and astronomy." This represents an important step in returning the skies above Arkansas to their "Natural State" of darkness.

A link to the Arkansas House of Representatives report on HB 1568, to include a full link to the bill, is found here: http://www.arkansashouse.org/bill/2013R/HB1568

Representative Meeks is a long time friend to dark skies. He addressed both the Arkansas-Oklahoma Astronomical and the Central Arkansas Astronomical Societies this past year promoting his legislation and the need for the energy conservation and dark sky preservation it will bring. Rep. Meeks is an amateur astronomer and was the two term president of the North East Florida Astronomical Society when he resided in Florida. Stephen reports on his web site that his legislation will both save tax payer dollars as well as help the nighttime environment by reducing light pollution. http://stephenmeeks.org/hb1568-light-pollution/

More information about Representative Meeks can be found on his home page. http://stephenmeeks.org/

We need your help in getting HB 1568 enacted into law. Please contact your state representative and senator to seek their support for this important measure. To find your representative, use the interactive tool "Find Your Representative." Input your address into the tool and the name and contact information for your representative will be provided. http://www.arkansashouse.org/

Finding your senator is likewise easy using the interactive tool on this page: http://www.arkansas.gov/senate/senatorSearch.html

Please contact BOTH your representative and senator.

A "Capitol" Star Party will promote passage of the "Arkansas Nighttime Environment Protection" bill

On Tuesday, March 12, 2013, 7 - 9 p.m. Representative Meeks and the International Dark-Sky Association, Arkansas Chapter will host a star party on the north lawn of the Arkansas State Capitol grounds in Little Rock. Our special guests will be the members of the Arkansas General Assembly whose votes are needed for passage of the legislation. You can help! If you are an amateur astronomer or just someone who cares about reducing light pollution and preserving dark skies, you are invited to participate in this star party and share your passion with our law makers. We hope to see you there. It promises to be a great night!

Clear, dark skies!

Jim Fisher
Arkansas Chapter Leader International Dark-Sky Association
www.darksky.org

The mission of the International Dark-Sky Association is to preserve and protect the nighttime environment and our heritage of dark skies through environmentally responsible outdoor lighting.

Any update? I just noticed the post