25.3032.01000
Sixty-ninth
Legislative Assembly
of North Dakota
Introduced by
Senators Mathern, Rummel
Representatives Foss, Hanson, Murphy
A concurrent resolution declaring April 21, 2025, through April 28, 2025, as "North Dakota Dark
Sky Week," and urging the residents of North Dakota to partake in this event to observe,
ponder, and support the natural dark sky resources of this state.
WHEREAS, collisions with glass surfaces cause about one billion bird deaths in the United
States each year, contributing to a 29 percent decline in North American bird populations since
1970; and
WHEREAS, over half of North America's breeding birds are migratory, with more than
80 percent migrating at night, and during migration, lights can cause birds to collide with
windows or walls, causing injury, exhaustion, confusion, or death; and
WHEREAS, North Dakota is located along the Central Flyway, with its eastern border on
the edge of the Mississippi Flyway, a significant neotropical migratory pathway, where
approximately 450 million birds migrate through North Dakota in the spring and 400 million each
fall, and on peak migration nights, as many as 35 million birds migrate over the state; and
WHEREAS, eliminating nonessential indoor and exterior lighting during the spring and fall
migration can significantly reduce bird mortality; and
WHEREAS, private organizations supporting North Dakota Dark Sky Week encourage
state, municipal, residential, and commercial building owners, operators, managers, and
tenants to turn off, dim, or redirect excess lighting during migration seasons to protect birds from
light pollution and help provide safer passage between bird nesting and wintering grounds; and
WHEREAS, in addition to protecting the birds of the state, the implementation of a
statewide North Dakota Dark Sky Week may save millions in energy costs, increase energy
security, and help reduce energy carbon emissions in alignment with North Dakota's Priority
Climate Action Plan; and
Page No. 1 25.3032.01000
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 4004
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23 Sixty-ninth
Legislative Assembly
WHEREAS, Studies have shown that soybeans and other crops are sensitive to exposure
to light pollution, in addition to high risks to pollinator species of insects such as honeybees and
moths; and
WHEREAS, Light pollution has been demonstrated to have links to a wide variety of human
health concerns including cancer, obesity, diabetes, and mental health disorders stemming from
disruption of our circadian rhythm and the loss of awe and wonder a night sky can provide; and
WHEREAS, 90 percent of the world's population, including most of the state's residents in
the six most populous counties, live under a dome of light pollution that denies them a critical
connection to a shared cultural and historical heritage;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF NORTH DAKOTA, THE
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN:
That the state declares the week of April 21, 2025, through April 28, 2025, be North Dakota
Dark Sky Week, and encourages state, municipal, and commercial building owners, operators,
managers, and tenants to participate in this event to spread awareness of light pollution and
mitigation techniques and voluntarily turn off unnecessary lights throughout the migration
season; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED , the Secretary of State forward copies of this resolution to
the Director of the North Dakota Tourism and Marketing Division, the Director of the North
Dakota Parks and Recreation Department, the Executive Committee of the North Dakota
Association of Counties, the President of the North Dakota Township Officers Association, and
the Executive Board of the North Dakota League of Cities.
Page No. 2 25.3032.01000
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