This bill proposes that New Jersey establish permanent daylight saving time by remaining on Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) year-round, contingent upon federal authorization. Currently, New Jersey observes Eastern Standard Time (EST) for four months each year, while participating in daylight saving time from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November. The bill highlights that residents have become more accustomed to the extended daylight saving time and that the biannual time change is disruptive to commerce, daily schedules, and public health.

To implement this change, the bill includes a provision that mandates the New Jersey Legislature to require the state to observe daylight saving time year-round if the federal government allows such a practice. Additionally, the bill amends existing legal language to reflect that the standard time of New Jersey will be defined as Coordinated Universal Time minus four hours, effectively establishing EDT as the state's permanent time. The bill's effective date is immediate for certain sections, while others will take effect on the first Sunday in November following federal authorization.

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