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S 4084

Relates to credits for charges in which services were not supplied

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Kevin Parker

New Jersey would adopt permanent standard time (UTC-5/EST) year-round, ending daylight saving Time and keeping clocks fixed, reshaping statewide scheduling and daily life.

REFERRED TO CITIES 1
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Bill Summary · S 4084

Summary of Senate Bill S 4084 (Introduced February 3, 2025)

Purpose and intent

  • The bill proposes that New Jersey permanently observe standard time year-round, ending the practice of adjusting clocks for daylight saving time (DST).
  • It asserts that permanent standard time aligns with human circadian biology and would promote public health, safety, and economic productivity. The bill cites studies and support from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine for eliminating seasonal time changes.

Key provisions

  • Amendments to law:
    • Replaces current time standards with a fixed standard time: Coordinated Universal Time minus five hours (UTC-5), i.e., Eastern Standard Time, year-round.
    • All time mentions within the state would be treated as this standard time.
  • Effect of time changes:
    • The current practice of moving clocks forward in spring and back in fall would be eliminated.
    • The bill implies that the state would no longer observe DST; time would remain at UTC-5 year-round.
  • Effective date and transition:
    • The act takes effect immediately, except if enacted between the second Sunday in March and the first Sunday in November (i.e., during DST), in which case it would take effect on the first Sunday after the end of DST.
  • Legislative changes:
    • Section 2 (amendment to R.S.1:1-2.3) codifies the permanent standard-time framework.
    • The notation references prior statutory language and repeals the DST schedule.

Affected parties and scope

  • State of New Jersey, including all public and private sector scheduling, commerce, transportation, and daily activities that rely on standard time.
  • Any timekeeping practices in state law or regulations that reference local time conventions would be aligned to UTC-5 year-round.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Introduced in the Senate on February 3, 2025.
  • Referred to Senate committees: Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation; and also listed as referred to CITIES 1.
  • Primary sponsor: Senator Kevin S. Parker.
  • Related and companion bills exist (e.g., A 1571; several S bills in prior sessions), indicating ongoing interest in permanent standard time.

Additional context from the bill

  • The “Be It Enacted” section frames the historical evolution of U.S. time standards and DST, recounting federal acts since 1918 and 1966, and notes ongoing concerns about the negative impacts of time shifts on commerce, health, safety, and productivity.
  • The bill’s text emphasizes public health benefits and references research and professional medical associations supporting a fixed year-round time.

Considerations

  • Fiscal impact is not specified in the introduced text.
  • Implementation would require coordination with states and possibly federal considerations related to time standards.

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

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