Assemblyman says it’s time to stop changing our clocks

Daylight saving time comes to an end this weekend – but what if it didn’t have to? Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara is pushing to pass a bill that would make the extra hour of daylight permanent in New York.

Americans have been changing their clocks every fall and spring for more than 100 years. Clocks are moved ahead in the warmer months to give us an extra hour of daylight. We return to standard time early this Sunday morning, which means it will get darker a lot earlier.

“When clocks move forward in the spring and move back in the fall, studies have shown that the transition has a negative effect on sleep, productivity, concentration, and general well-being,” Santabarbara said in a statement.

The legislation Santabarbara is calling for would establish daylight saving time as the permanent, year-round standard of time in partnership with neighboring states Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.

All states except for Arizona and Hawaii – as well as several U.S. territories – currently make the switch to daylight saving time every spring and then back to standard time in the fall.