Latest bill textIntroduced version, February 19, 2026 · 689 words
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION
Senate Bill
No. 1197
Introduced by Senator Niello
(Principal coauthor: Senator Choi)
(Coauthor: Senator Jones)
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February 19, 2026 |
An act to amend Section 6808 of the Government Code, relating to computation of time.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SB 1197, as introduced, Niello. Permanent standard time.
Existing state law, Proposition 7, an initiative measure approved by the voters at the November 6, 2018, statewide general election, sets the standard time for California and sets daylight saving time to begin each March and end each November, as specified. Proposition 7 authorizes the Legislature to amend these provisions by a 2/3 vote to change the dates and times of the daylight saving time period, consistent with federal law, and authorizes the Legislature to amend these provisions by a 2/3 vote to provide for the application of year-round daylight saving time when authorized by federal law.
This bill would repeal daylight saving time in the state and the provisions regarding the Legislature’s authority to amend the above-described provisions by a 2/3 vote. The bill would instead require the state and all political subdivisions of the state to observe year-round standard time. The bill would exempt the state and all political subdivisions of the state from the provisions of federal law that establish the advancement of time. If the federal government adopts year-long daylight saving time, the bill would require the state and all political subdivisions of the state to set time to conform with that adoption, as specified. The bill would make related findings and declarations.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(a) Changing between standard time and daylight saving time is disruptive to health, safety, and education.
(b) The California Medical Association, California Sleep Society, American Academy of Sleep Medicine, National Sleep Foundation, Sleep Research Society, and Society for Research on Biological Rhythms advise against permanent daylight saving time and recommend permanent standard time due to impacts to health.
(c) Permanent daylight saving time has historically been repealed due to its harm to health, safety, and education, after its trials during World War II and the 1970s.
(d) Federal law permits standard time by exemption from daylight saving time as the only alternative to biannual changing of clocks.
(e) Permanent standard time has been historically proven to last without incident for decades.
(f) Neighboring states are considering moving to permanent standard time so coordination with those states regarding timekeeping is essential for consistency.
(g) Permanent standard time has been historically proven to work without incident.
SEC. 2.
Section 6808 of the Government Code is amended to read:
6808.
(a)
(1) The standard time within the state is that of the fifth zone designated by federal law as Pacific standard time (15 U.S.C. Secs. 261 and 263).
(b)The standard time within the state shall advance by one hour during the daylight saving time period commencing at 2 a.m. on the second Sunday of March of each year and ending at 2 a.m. on the first Sunday of November of each year.
(c)Notwithstanding subdivision (b), the Legislature may amend this section by a two-thirds vote to change the dates and times of the daylight saving time period, consistent with federal law, and, if federal law authorizes the state to provide for the year-round application of daylight saving time, the Legislature may amend this section by a two-thirds vote to provide for that application.
(2) The state and all political subdivisions of the state shall observe the standard time pursuant to paragraph (1).
(b) The state and all political subdivisions of the state, pursuant to the exemption from the advancement of standard time authorized by Section 260a of Title 15 of the United States Code, shall be exempt from the advancement of standard time.
(c) If the federal government adopts year-long daylight saving time, then the state, and all political subdivisions of the state, shall set time to conform with that federal adoption, effective upon whichever date as shall be provided by federal law.
