HCR 1026

1  ENGROSSED HOUSE
 CONCURRENT
2  RESOLUTION NO. 1026  By: Hefner and Archer of the
                                          House
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                                                 and
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                                          Nice of the Senate
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7A Concurrent Resolution recognizing light pollution's
        impact on bird mortality, particularly during
8migration; encouraging Oklahoma businesses, state
        agencies, universities and schools, sports complexes,
9organizations, and residents to turn off any exterior
        lighting and shield interior lighting from shining
10outside during the high migration intensity months of
        April, May, September, and October.
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14    WHEREAS, the State of Oklahoma and the Oklahoma Animal Coalition
15 aim to provide birds safe passage during migration periods by
16 reducing light pollution, as well as building and glass collisions,
17 through the Lights Out Oklahoma campaign, and
18    WHEREAS, birds help with the control of pests, carrion
19 regulation, pollination, and seed dispersal while adding beauty and
20 connecting people to nature and the outdoors; and
21    WHEREAS, birdwatching is an economic driver in the State of
22 Oklahoma and is a fun, relaxing, multigenerational, educational and
23 wellness activity for all; and
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1      WHEREAS, a wide diversity of birds in Oklahoma indicates a
2  healthy environment; and
3      WHEREAS, Oklahoma is part of the central flyway through which
4  approximately 400 different species of birds migrate during the
5  spring and fall; and
6      WHEREAS, during peak migration hundreds of millions of birds
7  will come to pass through our state, including many long-distance
8  migrants like Mississippi kites and common nighthawks and endangered
9  species like whooping crane; and
10     WHEREAS, the Oklahoma state bird, the scissor-tailed flycatcher,
11 is one of the many species of birds that migrate to our state to
12 nest and rear their young; and
13     WHEREAS, most birds migrate at night, navigate by using the
14 stars and moon, and can become disoriented by bright artificial
15 light and sky glow, resulting in birds losing their way, exhaustion,
16 and deadly collisions with buildings, glass, power lines, and
17 vehicles; and
18     WHEREAS, collisions with buildings is one of the top causes of
19 mortality of birds in the United States; and
20     WHEREAS, the Lights Out Oklahoma program strategy is aimed to
21 persuade building owners, organization administrators, managers, and
22 homeowners to turn off exterior lighting on all buildings and
23 prevent interior lighting from shining out into the night during the
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1  high migration intensity months of April, May, September, and
2  October; and
3      WHEREAS, these measures save energy and money and protect birds
4  migrating to nesting grounds in the spring and wintering grounds in
5  the fall; and
6      WHEREAS, Oklahoma joins the international community and states
7  including Texas, Colorado, Kansas, and Florida in sponsoring Lights
8  Out projects to protect birds during migration.
9      NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
10 OF THE 2ND SESSION OF THE 60TH OKLAHOMA LEGISLATURE, THE SENATE
11 CONCURRING THEREIN:
12     THAT the Oklahoma State Legislature supports reducing bird
13 mortality in the areas and encourages Oklahoma businesses, state
14 agencies, universities and schools, sports complexes, organizations,
15 and residents to turn off any exterior lighting and shield interior
16 lighting during the high migration intensity months of April, May,
17 September, and October.
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1      Adopted by the House of Representatives the 27th day of April,
 2026.
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4Presiding Officer of the House
                                                 of Representatives
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6     Adopted by the Senate the ___ day of _________, 2026.
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                                    Presiding Officer of the Senate
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