Each spring, clocks “spring forward” one hour to start Daylight Saving Time, giving New Yorkers an extra hour of sunlight each day before sunset.
The reverse happens each fall. We “fall back,’’ by setting our clocks one hour back, bringing darkness earlier each night as the cold weather arrives.
But there have been rumblings among lawmakers that raise the question: Will Daylight Saving Time even exist in New York in 2026?
Not everyone is a fan, and lawmakers continue to try to eliminate the process of changing the clocks.
Some states already opt out altogether. Arizona and Hawaii do not change the clocks twice a year. Also, American territories Guam, American Samoa, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands remain on Standard Time year-round.
Some argue it’s unhealthy, because the circadian rhythms of our bodies are disturbed. Some studies show more heart attacks, strokes and obesity linked to the disturbance of those rhythms.
Others say changing the clocks twice each year is dangerous, because the change back to Standard Time forces children outside onto bus stops in the dark. Also, sleepy commuters must hit the road in darkness each morning, a risk for accidents and injuries.
In 2023, New York lawmakers introduced two bills in the State Assembly and Senate aiming to make Daylight Saving Time permanent in the state. But both pieces of legislation failed to advance and remained stuck in committee. They were never voted on and expired.
Yet six new bills have recently been introduced in the New York state Assembly and Senate. These bills await action when the legislature reconvenes on Jan. 7, 2026
Opinions are divided in the state.
Three of the six bills are in favor of making Standard Time permanent year-round. The other three bills propose making Daylight Saving Time the permanent standard for the state.
The three in favor of permanent Standard Time were introduced by State Sen. Leroy Comrie and New York State Assemblymembers Angelo Morinello and Jeffrey Dinowitz.
The other three advocate for Daylight Saving Time all year long. This would require federal approval. They were introduced by Assemblymember Dana Levenberg, Sen. Joseph Griffo and Sen. James Skoufis.
In fact, 31 states in total have considered or are actively pursuing legislation to eliminate the biannual clock change.
Several states, in addition to New York, have competing bills.
The following states have introduced or have explored legislation to stay on Standard Time year-round, which is allowed under current federal law, according to The Hill.
- Alaska
- Massachusetts
- Missouri
- Nebraska
- New York
- South Carolina
- Texas
- Virginia
Lawmakers in these additional states have introduced bills or resolutions seeking to adopt permanent Daylight Saving Time:
- Connecticut
- Illinois
- Iowa
- Maine
- Maryland
- North Carolina
- Pennsylvania
- Texas
- Virginia
- Massachusetts
- Missouri
- Nebraska
- South Dakota
- Indiana
- Nevada
- Arkansas
- New Jersey
- North Dakota
- Utah
- California
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