Amended  IN  Senate  February 19, 2026

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION

Senate Resolution
No. 79


Introduced by Senator Niello

February 12, 2026


Relative to Sleep Health Awareness Week.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


SR 79, as amended, Niello.

WHEREAS, Sleep is essential for health, well-being, and safety; and
WHEREAS, Advancing advocacy and promotion of evidence-based sleep health practices will improve the general health of the public; and
WHEREAS, The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises that most adults need at least seven hours of sleep per night; and
WHEREAS, The National Sleep Foundation’s 2025 Sleep in America Poll found that 60 percent of Americans say they do not regularly get the recommended amount of nightly sleep; and
WHEREAS, The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports 35 percent of all adults in the United States sleep less than seven hours per night on average; and
WHEREAS, Sleep deprivation can lead to impaired memory, elevated stress levels, disrupted metabolism, and increased risk of injury and accidents; and
WHEREAS, In the long term, insufficient sleep can increase the risk of diabetes, stroke, heart disease, high blood pressure, depression, and other health conditions; and
WHEREAS, Insomnia can be a symptom of depression and anxiety, and sleep problems can also exacerbate or contribute to the onset of mental health conditions; and
WHEREAS, The Legislature passed Senate Bill 328 (Chapter 868 of the Statutes of 2019) in support of moving school start times to protect the importance of more sleep to students’ health; and
WHEREAS, Changing between standard time and daylight saving time is severely disruptive to sleep and the natural circadian rhythm of humans, consequently having a negative impact on sleep, health, safety, and education; and
WHEREAS, Socially disadvantaged individuals such as shift workers are disproportionally impacted by daylight saving time as their sleep patterns are most affected and childcare is harder to obtain for their families; and
WHEREAS, The California Medical Association, California Sleep Society, American Academy of Sleep Medicine, National Sleep Foundation, Sleep Research Society, and Society for Research on Biological Rhythms advise against permanent daylight saving time and recommend permanent standard time due to impacts to sleep and therefore health; and
WHEREAS, Congress established the National Center on Sleep Disorders Research in 1993 to foster the coordination of sleep and circadian research within the National Institutes of Health and other federal agencies; and
WHEREAS, For over two decades, the National Sleep Foundation has organized Sleep Health Awareness Week to promote the benefits of healthy sleep and its importance to overall health and well-being; and
WHEREAS, Numerous states and organizations across the nation recognize and participate in Sleep Health Awareness Week; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, That the Senate recognizes the importance of sleep health as a way to increase health and well-being; and be it further
Resolved, That the Senate supports the designation of the week of March 8 through March 14, 2026, as Sleep Health Awareness Week; and be it further
Resolved, That the Senate supports the goals and efforts of Sleep Health Awareness Week; and be it further
Resolved, That the Senate encourages public health officials, health care providers, educators, and parents to do their part to promote adequate sleep; and be it further
Resolved, That the Senate encourages the people of the United States to prioritize their sleep health, practice good habits for sleep health, and discuss their sleep with their health care provider; and be it further
Resolved, That the Senate recognizes the continued importance of policies to improve sleep health; and be it further
Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.