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HB407 • 2026

Light pollution education and dark sky preservation; DEQ shall serve as lead agency.

<p class=ldtitle>A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Title 10.1 a chapter numbered 10.4, consisting of a section numbered 10.1-1028, relating to light pollution education and dark sky preservation.</p>

Education Energy
Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Reid
Last action
2026-02-18
Official status
Failed
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not provide specific details on the number of areas designated as Dark Sky Preserves.

Light Pollution Education and Dark Sky Preservation Act

This law makes the Department of Environmental Quality responsible for educating people about light pollution and its effects. It also allows the Department of Conservation and Recreation to designate areas as Dark Sky Preserves.

What This Bill Does

  • Makes the DEQ the main agency to teach people about light pollution.
  • Requires DEQ, in coordination with other departments, to develop an education program on the impacts of light pollution and promote best practices for outdoor lighting.
  • Allows DCR to designate areas as Dark Sky Preserves if they meet certain conditions.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ)
  • The Department of Energy
  • The Department of Wildlife Resources
  • The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR)

Terms To Know

Dark Sky Preserve
An area designated by the DCR to promote dark skies and reduce light pollution.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not create new rules for lighting or land use.
  • It is unclear how many areas will be named as Dark Sky Preserves.
  • The law starts on January 1, 2027.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

HB407AHC1

2026-01-28

Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources Amendment

Plain English: The amendment changes references to 'Environmental Quality' in the bill text to 'Conservation and Recreation', removes a mention of the Department of Conservation and Recreation, and deletes certain lines related to those departments.

  • Changes all instances of 'Environmental Quality' to 'Conservation and Recreation'.
  • Removes a reference to the Department of Conservation and Recreation.
  • Deletes specific lines mentioning these departments.
  • The exact impact on the bill's content beyond these changes is not clear from the provided amendment text.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-18 House

    Left in Committee Agriculture Chesapeake and Natural Resources

  2. 2026-02-18 House

    Left in Committee Agriculture Chesapeake and Natural Resources

  3. 2026-01-28 Natural Resources

    Subcommittee recommends laying on the table (8-Y 2-N)

  4. 2026-01-28 Natural Resources

    House subcommittee offered

  5. 2026-01-19 Natural Resources

    Assigned HACNR sub: Natural Resources

  6. 2026-01-12 House

    Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104728D

  7. 2026-01-12 Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources

    Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources

Official Summary Text

Light pollution education and dark sky preservation.
Provides that the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) shall serve as the lead agency for public education and outreach related to light pollution. The bill requires DEQ, in coordination with the Department of Energy, the Department of Wildlife Resources, and the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), to develop and implement an education and outreach program to (i) inform the public about the impacts of light pollution on public health, safety, wildlife, and the environment; (ii) promote best practices for outdoor lighting, including energy-efficient and properly shielded outdoor lighting fixtures; and (iii) encourage voluntary adoption of lighting practices that reduce light pollution and energy waste. The bill further provides that DCR may designate qualifying areas within the Commonwealth as Dark Sky Preserves, as defined in the bill, and that a Dark Sky Preserve designation shall be voluntary and advisory and shall not create additional land use or lighting restrictions beyond those established by local ordinance. The bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2027.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HB 407

SUBCOMMITTEE

1. Line 22, introduced, after
of

strike

Environmental Quality

insert

Conservation and Recreation

SUBCOMMITTEE

2. Line 24, introduced, after
of
[first instance]

strike

Environmental Quality

insert

Conservation and Recreation

SUBCOMMITTEE

3. Line 24, introduced, after
Energy

strike

,
[the comma]

insert

and

SUBCOMMITTEE

4. Line 25, introduced, after
Resources,

strike

and the Department of Conservation and Recreation,

SUBCOMMITTEE

5. Line 34, introduced

strike

all of lines 34, 35, and 36