Trenton, NJ – In New Jersey, residents will adjust their clocks for Daylight Saving Time (DST) starting on Sunday, March 10, 2024, at 2:00 a.m., shifting the clock forward to 3:00 a.m.
This change will extend daylight hours in the evening and is set to end on Sunday, November 3, 2024, when clocks will “fall back” to standard time. The adjustment aims to better use daylight during the evenings and has been a practice observed in various forms since World War I.
The concept of DST has been both praised for its potential benefits, such as energy conservation and boosting the economy through increased consumer activity, and criticized for the biannual disruption it causes to people’s sleep schedules and routines. In response to these criticisms, there has been a growing movement across the United States, including New Jersey, to make daylight saving time permanent, eliminating the need to change clocks twice a year.
In 2023, New Jersey lawmakers introduced a bill that would establish DST permanently in the state, contingent on federal approval.
This move aligns with several other states’ actions and ongoing federal discussions about making daylight saving time permanent nationwide. The Sunshine Protection Act, a bipartisan bill, received unanimous approval from the Senate in 2022, aiming to make DST permanent across the country. However, it still requires passage by the House and the President’s signature to become law.
The push for permanent DST has garnered support due to its anticipated positive effects on public health, the economy, and potentially reducing energy consumption. Advocates argue that longer evening daylight hours can encourage more outdoor activities, reduce seasonal depression, and increase economic activity. Critics of the change, however, raise concerns about the impact on morning routines, particularly for students and workers who may have to commute in the dark during winter months.
As discussions continue both in New Jersey and at the federal level, the future of daylight saving time remains a topic of national debate. Should the Sunshine Protection Act pass, it would mark a significant shift in how time is observed across the United States, aligning with the growing desire for a simpler, more consistent approach to timekeeping.
As of now, New Jersey residents and those across the country are watching closely as legislative efforts to end the biannual clock change gain momentum, potentially leading to a future where daylight saving time becomes the new standard year-round.