SB3964 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB104 20563 WRO 34042 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
SB3964

Introduced 2/6/2026, by Sen. Adriane Johnson

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

415 ILCS 200/15
415 ILCS 200/20
415 ILCS 200/25

Amends the Responsible Outdoor Lighting Control Act. Provides that all new luminaires purchased or installed after June 30, 2032, must have a correlated color temperature less than or equal to 2,700 Kelvin. Provides that the act does not apply if it is necessary to use uplighting for statuary lighting and historical façade lighting. In cases where uplighting is the only viable solution for these items, the lighting should have a color corrected temperature of no more than 2,700 degrees Kelvin, must be minimized to no more than 25% above ANSI/IES standards, must exceed an illuminance of one lux as measured at ground level both horizontally and vertically at the property boundary, and must be extinguished every night no later than 12:00 a.m. Provides that, after January 1, 2027, any new placement or replacement of uplighting of State historic statuary and State historical façade lighting shall be approved by the State Historic Preservation Office. Makes other changes.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning safety.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Responsible Outdoor Lighting Control Act is amended by changing Sections 15, 20, and 25 as follows:

(415 ILCS 200/15)

Sec. 15. Outdoor lighting control. All new luminaires purchased with State funds after the effective date of this Act or installed after the effective date of this Act on a structure or land that is owned and managed by the Department of Natural Resources, including roadways, facilities, properties, nonhabitable structures, monuments, and public right-of-way spaces, including sidewalks, with the intended purpose of outdoor illumination must follow the following outdoor lighting control requirements:

(1) Permanent outdoor luminaires must be fully shielded with an IES BUG rating and produce less than 1% of its emitted light above 80 degrees from the downward vertical direction of nadir. Light should not be emitted at an angle above 60 degrees from the downward vertical direction of nadir.

(2) Luminaires must avoid light trespass by not exceeding an illuminance of one lux as measured at ground level both horizontally and vertically at the property boundary.

(3) Luminaires purchased or installed on or before June 30, 2032 must have a correlated color temperature less than or equal to 2,700 Kelvin. All new luminaires purchased or installed after June 30, 2032, must have a correlated color temperature less than or equal to 2,700 Kelvin. In residential areas, dark sky locations, or environmentally sensitive areas, such as State parks and outdoor recreation facilities, correlated color temperature should be no more than 2,200 Kelvin.

(4) Outdoor lighting must be minimized to no more than 25% above ANSI/IES standards or United States Department of Transportation recommendations.

(5) Facade lighting must be minimized to no more than 25% above ANSI/IES standards, must project downward, and must not violate the light trespass limits in paragraph (2).

(6) When the installation or replacement of roadway lighting is planned, the appropriate authority must determine whether reflective roadway markings or reflective signage is appropriate and safe for the situation in lieu of outdoor lighting. Reflectorized roadway markings, lines, warning signs, informational signs or other passive means must be used for roadway lighting, except at intersections of 2 or more streets or highways, unless it is determined that adequate safety cannot be achieved by reflective means.

(7) No artificial lighting above one lux, as measured at ground level both horizontally and vertically, may trespass onto land or waterways designated or managed as habitat, reserve, natural area, open space, or wilderness.

(Source: P.A. 103-1007, eff. 1-1-25.)

(415 ILCS 200/20)

Sec. 20. Exceptions. This Act does not apply if:

(1) the luminaires are on a structure or land that is owned, supported, funded, leased, or managed by the State in a county or municipality that, by ordinance or resolution, has adopted provisions that are equal to or more stringent than the provisions of this Act;

(2) a federal law or regulation preempts this Act;

(3) a State agency determines a safety or security need exists that cannot be addressed by any other method;

(4) fire, police, rescue, or repair personnel need light for temporary emergencies or road repair work;

(5) it has been determined that a reasonable safety and security interest exists at correctional or hospital facilities that cannot be addressed by another method as long as it complies with existing standards, specifications, or policies;

(6) navigational lighting systems and other lighting are necessary to comply with Federal Aviation Administration airside operations or nautical safety;

(7) lamps greater than 2,700 Kelvin are used on active sports grounds or show grounds, but only for the duration of a practice, match, or event. Lamps emitting greater than 2,700 Kelvin under this paragraph must be positioned, angled, or shielded to prevent direct glare and light trespass onto neighboring property or properties, and the positioning, angling, or shielding must limit upward light emission to only the amount necessary to light the sporting or grounds activity;

(8) flagpoles installed after the effective date of this Act are lit by means of a downward-facing lamp and using a lamp of 2,700 Kelvin or lower;

(9) flagpoles installed on or before the effective date of this Act are upward-lit by partially shielded or unshielded luminaires using a lamp of 2,200 Kelvin or lower to minimize the impact of glare, light trespass, and sky glow and are converted to conform to requirements upon retrofitting;

(10) the luminaires luminaries are existing decorative and ornamental lighting that serve historical purposes, but replacement luminaires luminaries for the existing decorative and ornamental lighting must meet the standards of this Act to the extent possible while maintaining historical fidelity; or

(11) the luminaires luminaries are temporary seasonal holiday lighting lasting no longer than 45 days surrounding the holiday season; .

(12) it is necessary to use uplighting for statuary lighting and historical façade lighting. In cases where uplighting is the only viable solution for these items, the lighting should have a color corrected temperature of no more than 2,700 degrees Kelvin, must be minimized to no more than 25% above ANSI/IES standards, must not violate the light trespass limits in paragraph (2) of Section 15, and must be extinguished every night no later than 12:00 a.m. After January 1, 2027, any new placement or replacement of uplighting of State historic statuary and State historical façade lighting shall be approved by the State Historic Preservation Office.

(Source: P.A. 103-1007, eff. 1-1-25.)

(415 ILCS 200/25)

Sec. 25. Other laws. If this Act conflicts with any other federal law, State law, or local ordinance controlling lighting, outdoor luminaires luminaries, signage, outdoor advertising, displays, or devices that is more stringent than the Act, then the federal law, State law, or local ordinance controls to the extent it is more stringent than the Act.

(Source: P.A. 103-1007, eff. 1-1-25.)