Outdoor Lighting - Guidance and Use of State Funds
HB452 requires the Maryland Green Building Council to update or develop guidance for purchasing outdoor lighting fixtures by October 1, 2026, taking into account recommendations from the American Medical Association on light pollution and color temperature. The bill also directs the Department of Transportation to conduct a review of highway lighting practices and consider changes that align with the Federal Highway Administration’s Lighting Handbook. The new guidance does not apply to the Department of Transportation.
The bill revises state procurement rules for permanent outdoor luminaires on State buildings, facilities, parks, and trails. State funds generally may not be used unless the lighting is designed to conserve energy and reduce light pollution, glare, and trespass; has a correlated color temperature of 3,000 Kelvin or less, except for certain Department of Transportation installations; provides only the minimum illumination necessary; and, for higher-output fixtures, is a restricted uplight luminaire. It also expands existing exceptions and allows the Board of Public Works, or its designee, to waive certain requirements when necessary for a lighting application.
HB452 amends the Public Safety Article by creating a new outdoor lighting guidance subtitle and revises State Finance and Procurement law governing when State funds may be used for outdoor lighting projects. It affects State agencies, the Board of Public Works, the Maryland Green Building Council, and the Department of Transportation, while also carving out exemptions for correctional facilities, federal requirements, storm operations, flag lighting, sign illumination, limited replacement projects, and sports field lighting. The bill is prospective only and does not affect projects whose design phase was completed before the new guidance is published.
The bill appears to have broad legislative support, passing the House 114-22 and the Senate 36-11. The vote totals suggest general agreement with the bill’s goals of reducing light pollution and improving lighting standards, while still allowing flexibility for transportation and other specialized uses. The absence of committee transcript material limits insight into detailed debate, but the recorded votes indicate the measure was favored overall.
The main points of contention likely centered on the new restrictions on outdoor lighting, especially the 3,000 Kelvin color temperature limit, the restricted uplight requirement, and the limits on when State funds may be used. The bill also creates tension between environmental/light-pollution goals and operational needs, reflected in the Department of Transportation exemptions and the Board of Public Works waiver authority. Exemptions for sports facilities, correctional facilities, and certain highway or emergency uses suggest lawmakers balanced the bill’s lighting standards against practical and safety concerns.