Time to make Daylight Saving Time permanent in New York

On Sunday, Nov. 2, we turned our clocks back one hour as Daylight Saving Time ended.

Doing so is part of a bi-annual custom observed by many American households: In the spring, we advance their clocks by an hour in the warmer months so that it gets dark later and move their clocks back an hour in the fall.

However, I believe it’s time for a change when it comes to time in New York State.

I’ve introduced legislation that establishes Daylight Saving Time as the state’s year-round time contingent upon the repeal of the federal law establishing Daylight Saving Time.

The bill would go into effect following the passage of similar legislation by neighboring states, including Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. I’ve continued to communicate, collaborate and coordinate with my legislative colleagues in others states regarding this issue.

Federal law does not currently allow full-time Daylight Saving Time, which means that Congress would have to act before states could adopt changes.

In the last five years, 19 states have enacted legislation or passed resolutions to provide for year-round Daylight Saving Time, if Congress were to allow such a change, and in some cases, if surrounding states enact the same legislation, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

I always get asked why would we want to make Daylight Saving Time permanent in New York State and the Northeast?

For me, there are several reasons.

Studies and research have shown that permanent Daylight Saving Time can decrease health concerns, enhance public safety, cut down on traffic-related accidents and provide a needed boost for local and state economies.

To me, it just makes sense to not have to change our clocks twice a year.

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