Oklahoma House Bill HCR1014

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 4/17/25
• Engrossed: 4/23/25

Caption

Resolution; light pollution; bird mortality; encouraging Oklahomans to turn off lights during peak migration.

Summary

HCR1014 is a concurrent resolution recognizing the impact of light pollution on bird mortality and supporting the Lights Out Oklahoma campaign. It encourages Oklahoma businesses, state agencies, organizations, and residents to turn off exterior lighting during peak migration months—April, May, September, and October—to reduce disorientation, collisions, and exhaustion among migrating birds. The resolution explains that many birds migrate at night and rely on natural cues such as the stars and moon, which can be disrupted by artificial light and sky glow. It highlights the ecological and economic value of birds in Oklahoma, including pest control, pollination, seed dispersal, and birdwatching, and notes that Oklahoma lies within the Central Flyway used by hundreds of bird species. The measure is advisory rather than regulatory and does not create a mandatory lighting restriction or amend existing statutes.

Impact

HCR1014 does not change state law or impose enforceable requirements. Instead, it expresses legislative support for voluntary light-reduction practices and promotes public participation in an existing conservation campaign. Its practical effect is to encourage building owners, homeowners, public agencies, and other entities to reduce exterior lighting during migration periods in order to lower bird deaths and potentially save energy costs.

Sentiment

The overall sentiment around the resolution appears strongly supportive and noncontroversial. The bill text uses positive framing around wildlife protection, environmental health, and the recreational and economic benefits of birdwatching, and there is no recorded committee debate or vote opposition in the provided materials. The resolution was adopted by the House, indicating broad acceptance of the conservation message.

Contention

No major points of contention are reflected in the available record. Because the resolution is voluntary and symbolic, it is unlikely to raise the kinds of regulatory or economic concerns that accompany mandatory lighting restrictions. Any potential concern would likely center on whether businesses or property owners should be asked to alter lighting practices, but the text itself emphasizes encouragement rather than compulsion.