Resolution calling on the New York State Legislature to petition Congress for authorization to permit year-round standard time and for the New York State Legislature to adopt, and the Governor to sign, legislation to adopt permanent standard time

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Res. No. 361 ..Title Resolution calling on the New York State Legislature to petition Congress for authorization to permit year-round standard time and for the New York State Legislature to adopt, and the Governor to sign, legislation to adopt permanent standard time ..Body By Council Members Morano, Stevens, Cabán, Farías and Ossé Whereas, Daylight saving time was introduced in the United States to conserve energy during World War I, and was originally intended to be temporary; and Whereas, Daylight saving time shifts clocks forward one hour ahead of standard time during the warmer months; and Whereas, Prior to the adoption of daylight saving time, the United States was on year-round standard time; and Whereas, Standard time aligns more closely with the position of the sun; and Whereas, The federal Uniform Time Act of 1966 (“Uniform Time Act”) establishes nationwide observance of daylight saving time but permits states to exempt themselves and observe standard time year-round; and; Whereas, The Uniform Time Act allows states to exempt themselves from the observance of daylight saving time and observe standard time year-round without Congressional approval; and Whereas, The Uniform Time Act requires states to obtain Congressional approval in order to adopt year-round daylight saving time; and Whereas, The biannual practice of “springing forward” and “falling back” disrupts sleep patterns, increases fatigue, and has been linked to a measurable uptick in heart attacks, strokes, and motor vehicle accidents in the days following each clock change; and Whereas, Public health organizations such as the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the National Sleep Foundation have urged governments to adopt permanent standard time, citing the alignment of standard time with natural circadian rhythms and the resulting benefits for physical and mental health; and Whereas, Studies have shown that maintaining a time schedule consistent with sunrise and sunset improves alertness, productivity, and overall well-being, particularly among children, older adults, and workers with early start times; and Whereas, Permanent daylight saving time, while offering longer daylight in the evening, would require darker mornings for much of the year, posing safety risks for schoolchildren, commuters, and pedestrians; and Whereas, Eliminating the biannual clock change would provide greater consistency for businesses, schools, and families; and Whereas, Eliminating daylight saving time would align New York with other states that have adopted standard time year-round; and Whereas, Arizona and Hawaii already observe standard time year-round, and numerous other states have introduced bills seeking to end the biannual time change; and Whereas, New York City, as a global financial and cultural center, has a strong interest in maintaining predictable and health-conscious time standards that support both economic efficiency and public well-being; now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls on the New York State Legislature to petition Congress for authorization to permit year-round standard time and for the New York State Legislature to adopt, and the Governor to sign, legislation to adopt permanent standard time. LS #20738 01/06/26 EHC

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