This bill proposes that New Hampshire should exempt itself from daylight saving time, contingent upon authorization from the United States Congress. The bill amends RSA 21:36, which currently dictates that New Hampshire follows Eastern Standard Time with an annual shift to daylight saving time in March and a reversion in November. The new language inserted into the law would establish that New Hampshire observes year-round the provisions of 15 U.S.C. section 260a, which provides for the advancement of time commonly known as eastern daylight saving time. This means that if the bill is enacted and Congress permits, New Hampshire would no longer switch between standard time and daylight saving time but would instead maintain daylight saving time throughout the year.

The bill outlines that the changes to New Hampshire's time observance would take effect on the first January following or coinciding with the amendment of 15 U.S.C. section 260a by the United States Congress that allows states to observe daylight saving time year-round. The effective date of Section 1 of the act is tied to this contingency, while the remainder of the act would take effect 60 days after its passage. This bill, therefore, sets the stage for New Hampshire to adopt permanent daylight saving time pending federal approval.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 21:36
As Amended by the House: 21:36