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H 3405

An Act establishing permanent standard time within the Commonwealth to promote sleep and health

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by James Arena-DeRosa and 9 co-sponsors

Massachusetts bill establishes permanent Eastern Standard Time year-round to improve sleep and health by eliminating daylight saving time transitions.

Hearing scheduled for 07/22/2025 from 10:00 AM-01:00 PM in A-1
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Bill Summary · H 3405

Legislative bill overview

H 3405 proposes to establish permanent standard time (Eastern Standard Time year-round) in Massachusetts, eliminating the practice of switching between standard and daylight saving time. The bill is justified on grounds of promoting public health, particularly sleep quality and circadian rhythm alignment.

Why is this important

Daylight saving time transitions disrupt sleep patterns and are associated with increased heart attacks, strokes, and traffic accidents in the days following clock changes. By eliminating these biannual switches, Massachusetts could reduce these health risks for its residents and potentially influence regional time policy decisions, as neighboring states often coordinate their timekeeping practices.

Potential points of contention

  • Federal authority questions: The Uniform Time Act of 1966 allows states to opt out of daylight saving time but only to remain on standard time permanently. Massachusetts would need to verify this complies with federal law and may face legal challenges.
  • Economic and behavioral impacts: Permanent standard time means darker winter mornings and earlier evening darkness year-round, which could affect business hours, consumer behavior, school schedules, and worker productivity—creating winners and losers across different sectors and demographics.
  • Regional coordination concerns: If surrounding states maintain daylight saving time, Massachusetts operating on permanent standard time could create coordination problems for interstate commerce, travel, and broadcasting, potentially reducing the bill's intended benefits.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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