Assembly Bill A9093

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   9093
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                            September 12, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced by M. of A. MILLER -- read once and referred to the Committee
   on Transportation
 
 AN  ACT  requiring  the  department of transportation and the governor's
   traffic safety committee, in coordination and  consultation  with  the
   state  university  of New York and the city university of New York, as
   well as the state university of New York College of Optometry and  any
   automotive  programs  within  the state university of New York and the
   city university of New York, to conduct a study on the impacts of  LED
   headlight glare on motorists' safety, and providing for the submission
   of a report to the governor and the legislature
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. Short title. This act shall be known and may  be  cited  as
 the "brightness emission analysis for motorist safety (BEAMS) act".
   § 2. Legislative intent. The legislature finds that contemporary auto-
 motive  light emitting diode (LED) headlights, while designed to improve
 visibility and safety for individual  motorists,  may  pose  significant
 hazards  to  oncoming  drivers  and  the general traveling public due to
 increased glare or brightness. Excessive headlight glare  or  brightness
 has  become  a  growing  safety concern across the State and the nation.
 While high-intensity LED lighting may reduce certain collision risks for
 the motorist using such  technology,  the  unintended  consequences  for
 oncoming  motorists, including impaired vision, temporary blindness, and
 potential long-term eye health concerns must be examined.  The  legisla-
 ture  recognizes  the  importance of imploring the federal government to
 act in conjunction with automotive manufacturers to address this  issue.
 However, New York state possesses the resources and expertise to conduct
 an  independent study to further understand the impacts of LED headlight
 glare. The results of  this  study  will  inform  state-level  policies,
 support  advocacy for federal action, and improve roadway safety for all
 motorists. Therefore, this act directs the department of  transportation
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD13667-01-5
              

 A. 9093                             2
 
 and  the  governor's  traffic  safety  committee,  in  consultation with
 academic institutions and technical experts, to perform a  comprehensive
 analysis  and produce a detailed report on this matter.  The findings of
 such  study  shall  be  transmitted  to appropriate federal agencies and
 authorities for their consideration.
   § 3. (a) Definitions. For the purposes  of  this  act,  the  following
 terms shall have the following meanings:
   (i)  "Commissioner"  shall mean the commissioner of the New York state
 department of transportation.
   (ii) "Committee" shall mean the governor's traffic safety committee.
   (iii) "Department" shall mean the New York state department of  trans-
 portation.
    (iv)  "Participating  institution" shall mean the state university of
 New York and the city university of New  York,  as  well  as  the  state
 university  of New York College of Optometry and any automotive programs
 within the state university of New York and the city university  of  New
 York.
   (b)  Study  and report. The department and committee shall, within one
 year of the effective date of this section, in coordination and  consul-
 tation with participating institutions, conduct a comprehensive study on
 the  impacts  of  automotive  headlight brightness and glare on motorist
 safety. Such study shall include, but not be limited to:
   (i) examining LED low beam headlight and headlamp alignment  standards
 and practices;
   (ii) assessing glare intensity and its effect on oncoming motorists;
   (iii)  analyzing  short-term  and long-term health implications of LED
 headlight brightness and glare;
   (iv) evaluating the dangers, risks, and potential liability associated
 with excessive brightness and glare;
   (v) compiling relevant data, accident reports,  or  research  findings
 pertaining to headlight brightness and glare; and
   (vi) developing report on the findings of the study including, but not
 limited  to, recommendations for mitigating LED headlight brightness and
 glare, including potential regulatory or  technological  solutions,  and
 any additional information or data deemed appropriate by the department,
 committee, or participating institutions.
   (c)  Report.  The commissioner shall deliver such report to the gover-
 nor, the temporary president of the senate, the speaker of the assembly,
 the senate committees on health, insurance, and transportation, and  the
 assembly  committees  on  health, insurance, and transportation no later
 than one year after the effective date of this act. Such report shall be
 publicly posted on the department and committee's websites.
   § 4. This act shall take effect on the sixtieth  day  after  it  shall
 have become a law and shall expire and be deemed repealed one year after
 such effective date.