Establishes daylight saving time as the year-round standard time of the state and the city of New York
Summary
This bill would change New York’s time laws so that, if federal law allows it, the state and the City of New York would observe eastern daylight saving time year-round rather than switching between standard time and daylight saving time. It amends the General Construction Law and the New York City Administrative Code to replace the current seasonal time-change framework with a reference to federal time statutes, while specifically providing for permanent daylight saving time as the operative time standard.
The bill is structured to take effect only if a group of neighboring states—Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania—enact identical legislation. If those states have already done so, the state-level provision would take effect immediately. It also directs the Secretary of State to notify the Legislative Bill Drafting Commission when the triggering condition is met so the official law database can be updated accurately.
Impact
The bill would amend state law governing legal and official timekeeping, affecting courts, public officers, and legal proceedings statewide, and it would similarly revise New York City’s local time provision. In practical terms, it would eliminate the biannual clock changes in New York only if federal law authorizes year-round daylight saving time, and it would align state and city law with federal time provisions in 15 U.S.C. sections 260 to 267 and 260a.
Sentiment
The available record shows no committee transcript and no recorded votes, so there is no direct evidence of debate or formal support/opposition in the materials provided. The bill’s introduction and referral to committee suggest it was still in the early legislative process, with the stated purpose presented in a straightforward, policy-oriented manner.
Contention
The main point of potential contention is whether New York should abandon the traditional standard-time/daylight-saving-time switch in favor of permanent daylight saving time, and whether that change should depend on federal permission. Another likely issue is the bill’s regional trigger: it conditions effectiveness on coordinated action by several neighboring states, which may raise concerns about timing, interstate consistency, and whether New York should wait for other states before acting. No specific objections or supporters are identified in the provided record.
Amending the act of April 13, 1887 (P.L.21, No.18), entitled "An act for the establishment of a uniform standard of time throughout the Commonwealth," observing daylight saving time year-around if authorized by the Congress of the United States.