This bill proposes that New Jersey establish permanent daylight saving time by remaining on Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) year-round, contingent upon federal authorization. The legislation highlights the historical context of daylight saving time, noting that the biannual time change has become disruptive to the daily lives and health of residents. It references various studies indicating that the transition between Eastern Standard Time (EST) and EDT negatively impacts commerce, safety, and well-being, suggesting that a permanent shift to daylight saving time would mitigate these issues.

To implement this change, the bill amends existing legal language to define the standard time of New Jersey as "Coordinated Universal Time minus four hours," effectively eliminating the previous reference to the seventy-fifth meridian west from Greenwich. Additionally, it specifies that the state will observe daylight saving time year-round if the federal government allows it. The bill's immediate sections would take effect upon passage, while the amendments to existing law would come into effect on the first Sunday in November following federal authorization.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 5:5-38, 49:3-61.2