The New Jersey Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism and Historic Preservation Committee approved a bill today which would make daylight saving time permanent, keeping the state on Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) year-round and eliminating the need to change clocks twice a year.

Currently, New Jersey observes Eastern Standard Time (EST) for four months, from November to March, and Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) for the remaining eight months.

Shlomo Schorr, director of legislative affairs for Agudath Israel of America’s New Jersey office, testified against the legislation, citing its potential impact on Orthodox Jewish communities across the state, including approximately 75,000 students attending 200 Jewish day schools.

Schorr acknowledged that many New Jersey residents are frustrated by the twice-yearly clock changes but argued that making daylight saving time permanent would create significant challenges for members of the Orthodox Jewish community.

He explained that Jewish morning prayers are governed by specific time requirements, with some prayers permitted only after sunrise. Under permanent daylight saving time, winter sunrise would occur later in the morning, potentially preventing Shachris from beginning before 8 a.m. on some days, forcing observant Jews to make a difficult choice between fulfilling their religious obligations and arriving at work on time.

He also raised concerns about children’s safety, noting that permanent daylight saving time would mean many students would have to leave home and wait at school bus stops in darkness during the winter months.

Young children could be less visible to motorists, Schorr argued, potentially increasing the dangers they face while traveling to school, noting they may be less visible to drowsy or distracted motorists and more vulnerable to traffic-related dangers during the early morning hours.

“We should not have to choose between eliminating the inconvenience of changing our clocks and maintaining safe conditions for our children as they travel to school,” Schorr said in his testimony.

Under federal law, however, states are not permitted to remain on daylight saving time throughout the year.

The bill would therefore only take effect if Congress amends the federal “Uniform Time Act of 1966” to authorize states to adopt permanent daylight saving time. That effort has passed overwhelmingly in the U.S. House of Representatives and is now awaiting a vote in the U.S. Senate.

Agudath Israel is opposed to that bill as well.

While the bill has been introduced several times in the past, it has not made much progress.

However, Senate President Nick Scutari recently added his name as a co-sponsor to the bill, which may signal some traction in the Legislature.

Once such authorization is granted, New Jersey would move to EDT year-round beginning on the first Sunday in November following that change.