Griffo and Santabarbara continue push to make daylight saving time permanent in New York
Following yesterday’s passage of the bipartisan Sunshine Protection Act by the U.S. House of
Representatives, New York State Sen. Joseph Griffo and Assemblyman Angela Santabarbara expressed
optimism that permanent daylight saving time could soon become a reality in New York.
The Sunshine Protection Act, passed by a vote of 308 to 117, would allow states to voluntarily observe
daylight saving time year-round. It now advances to the U.S. Senate, where it was passed unanimously in
2022 but was not taken up by the House. President Donald Trump is supportive of the bill.
i{\ am pleased that the House has passed the Sunshine Protection Act and am hopeful that the U.S.
Senate will also approve the measure,” Sen. Griffo said. “New Yorkers and other Americans are tired of
changing their clocks twice a year. This latest action taken by Congress today moves our country – and
hopefully our state – one step closer to ending this practice/’
“People are tired of this outdated practice, and NewYorkers are ready to stop changing their clocks twice
a year/’ Assemblyman Santabarbara said. “Changing our clocks every spring and fall serves little purpose
today. Permanent daylight saving time is a commonsense change with broad public support, which is
why I’ve been pushing for it here in New York for years. I’m encouraged that we’re closer than ever to
getting it done. I urge the U.S. Senate to follow suit and pass the Sunshine Protection Act so we can
finally make permanent daylight saving time a reality/’
Sen. Griffo and Assemblyman Santabarbara have been pushing the federal government to take action
and have communicated with federal representatives across the state.
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.
After hearing from countless constituents who expressed an interest in stopping the practice of
“springing forward77 and “falling back” each year. Sen. Griffo and Assemblyman Santabarbara introduced
legislation (S.3380/A.10571) 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.
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