An act relating to the establishment of year-round U.S. Eastern Standard Time

This bill proposes to make Vermont observe U.S. Eastern Standard Time year-round instead of switching to daylight saving time twice annually. It would amend state law to establish Eastern Standard Time as the permanent time zone for the state, with the transition to occur on January 1 of the year following when neighboring states like Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and New York adopt the same change. The legislation includes findings that standard time better supports health, safety, and productivity, and gives the governor authority to adjust time periods if needed to align with adjacent states. The bill would take effect on July 1, 2023, pending coordination with neighboring states to implement the change simultaneously.