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Committee reconsiders LD 567 and approves 'dark sky' weeks for May and September
Summary
After a tied earlier vote, the committee reconsidered LD 567 and voted to pass the measure as amended to designate a dark-sky week in May and a second week in September; vote was 8–1 with four members absent.
Augusta, Maine — The Joint Standing Committee on State and Local Government voted to pass, as amended, a resolution to designate two “dark sky” weeks in Maine after reconsidering a prior tie vote.
Senator Joseph Martin moved to reconsider the committee’s earlier tie on LD 567 and then moved that the committee report the bill "ought to pass as amended," adding a second dark-sky week in September in addition to a week in May. Representative Rollins seconded the motion to pass as amended. Testimony submitted to the committee and a representative of Maine Audubon emphasized the proposal’s potential benefit to tourism and bird migration seasons.
Ches Gundram, advocacy director for Maine Audubon, told the committee that adding a second week in September aligns with bird migration and provides a second seasonal tourism opportunity. Gundram said the September option "lines up with bird migration, but it also gives you 2 bites at the apple in terms of tourism on the shoulder seasons for Maine."
Citizen testimony in the hearing had been mixed; earlier, William Clardy expressed broad opposition to popular-election bills in the same meeting but did not oppose the dark-sky proposal specifically.
On the final roll call, eight members voted yes and one member voted no. Representative Will Toole voted no. The committee recorded four members absent. The clerk read the tally as eight in favor, one opposed and four absent; the committee’s motion passed and the committee will report the bill as "ought to pass" with the amendment specifying the second week of September.
The committee discussed the amendment and the rationale for two weeks: the May week as originally proposed and the added second week in the second week of September to capture fall migration and shoulder-season tourism. Supporters said the designation would be promotional and voluntary and intended to encourage businesses and municipalities to reduce light pollution temporarily for stargazing and wildlife benefits.
The outcome on LD 567 on the reconsideration vote was: yes — 8; no — 1; absent — 4. The committee’s action was procedural and will be reflected in the committee report; final legislative action will depend on subsequent floor votes and any further amendments.
