Senate President Announces Support for Bill to Stop Changing the Clocks in Massachusetts

Senate President Announces Support for Bill to Stop Changing the Clocks in Massachusetts 

(BOSTON—3/13/2026) Today, Senate President Karen E. Spilka announced her support for ending the twice-yearly clock change and establishing a permanent, consistent time system in Massachusetts.  

 

“Twice a year, Massachusetts residents scramble to adjust their routines, deal with disruptions to their kids’ sleep schedules, and have their lives unsettled generally,” said Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). 

 

“Every person who spent this week adapting with an hour less sleep or enjoying an afternoon of sunshine should agree. It’s time to stop changing the clocks and provide people with reasonable consistency.” 

 

“This should be the last time that Massachusetts has to change our clocks. It would be better for our health, safer for our roads, and remove one more complication from everyone’s lives. I want to thank Senator Keenan for filing this and Senator Collins for his collaboration to advance this measure to Senate Rules.” 

 

“Observing Atlantic Standard Time year-round would decrease energy usage, reduce the risk of heart attacks, strokes, car accidents, and increase workplace productivity,” said Senator John F. Keenan (D-Quincy), sponsor of the legislation. “Tom Emswiler, a constituent and dedicated expert on time zone policy, brought this issue to my attention. I’m pleased to see that his advocacy has helped spur action in the Legislature, a promising reminder of how engaged residents can help shed light on new ideas.” 

 

During a session on Thursday, the Senate moved legislation on the topic, S.2157, to the Committee on Rules, where it will receive review before a potential vote on the Senate floor.   

 

That legislation seeks to implement the recommendations of a previous legislative commission which noted the overall benefits of switching to a year-round daylight savings time because of the positive impacts from an additional hour of winter evening daylight and the absence of time transitions.  

Numerous studies have shown that changing the clocks has demonstrable negative impacts on health: 

• According to experts at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, the time change is associated with an increased risk of heart attacks, strokes, mood disturbances, and hospital admissions. 
• Research from the Stanford School of Medicine finds that disruptions to the body’s circadian rhythm are associated with higher rates of stroke and obesity. 
• Sleep medicine specialists from Northwestern Medicine have linked the clock change to longer-term health effects, including depression, slowed metabolism, weight gain, and cluster headaches.