As New Yorkers prepare to “spring” their clocks forward this weekend as daylight saving time begins, New York State Sen. Joseph Griffo and Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara are pushing the federal government to take action that would allow New Yorkers to stop changing their clocks twice a year in New York.
Following the enactment of the federal Uniform Time Act in 1966, most Americans 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. All states except for Hawaii and Arizona, as well as several U.S. territories, follow daylight saving time. Sen Griffo
After hearing from countless constituents who expressed an interest in stopping the practice of “springing forward” and “falling back” each year, Sen. Griffo and Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara have introduced legislation that establishes daylight saving time as the year-round standard time of New York State and New York City. Studies show that the transition out of daylight saving time leads to an increase in car accidents, causes more on-site work incidents and disrupts the health of all who are subject to the change in time.
The federal government must pass legislation allowing states to adopt daylight saving time as the permanent standard measure of time. Sen. Griffo and Assemblyman Santabarbara recently sent letters to Sen. Charles Schumer, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, Congressman John Mannion, Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, Congressman Josh Riley and Congressman Paul Tonko urging the representatives to support the Sunshine Protection Act of 2025 that has been introduced in Congress. The bipartisan federal bill would make daylight saving time the permanent across the United States.
Sen. Griffo and Assemblyman Santabarbara also continue to communicate, collaborate and coordinate with their legislative colleagues in others states to develop a compact in support of the federal government taking action. “It’s time to stop changing our clocks twice a year,” Sen. Griffo said. “There is active federal legislation that would make daylight saving permanent across the nation, and I am hopeful that our congressional representatives will support this bill and push for it to come up for a vote in their respective chambers. I will continue to work with Assemblyman Santabarbara to make permanent daylight saving time a reality in New York.”
“Twice a year, people have to change their clocks and try to adjust their schedules overnight,” said Assemblyman Santabarbara. “Anyone with kids, an early commute, or a busy routine knows how much that one-hour shift can throw things off. It can mess with sleep, make mornings tougher, and even lead to more accidents in the days that follow. It’s an outdated practice. It’s time to stop changing the clocks and stick with one consistent time all year.”
