Senate BillFailedGovernment
SB 51: Permanent standard time.
What SB 51 does, verified February 3, 2026
This bill would repeal daylight saving time in the state and require year-round standard time instead. The state and all political subdivisions would be exempt from federal law regarding time changes. The bill aims to provide consistency with the existing state law, which was established by Proposition 7 in 2018. It would also make related findings and declarations about the benefits of year-round standard time.
Bill journey
✓IntroducedComplete
2In CommitteeCurrent
3First Chamber FloorPending
4Second ChamberPending
5GovernorPending
6ChapteredPending
Last action: Returned to Secretary of Senate pursuant to Joint Rule 56. (2026-02-02)Alert me
Author and sponsors
Full contact details, staff, and committees with Connect, $16/moUnlockRecent actions15 total · showing 5
| Feb. 02, 2026 | Returned to Secretary of Senate pursuant to Joint Rule 56. |
| May. 23, 2025 | May 23 hearing: Held in committee and under submission. |
| May. 16, 2025 | Set for hearing May 23. |
| May. 05, 2025 | May 5 hearing: Placed on APPR. suspense file. |
| Apr. 25, 2025 | Set for hearing May 5. |
Latest bill textAmended version, April 8, 2025 · 520 words
| Amended IN Senate April 08, 2025 |
| Amended IN Senate March 17, 2025 |
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION
Senate Bill
No. 51
| Introduced by Senator Niello (Principal coauthor: Senator Choi) (Coauthors: Assembly Members Garcia and Ta) |
December 18, 2024 |
An act to amend Section 6808 of the Government Code, relating to computation of time.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SB 51, as amended, 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. 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).(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 shall be exempt from the provisions of federal law that establish the advancement of time (15 U.S.C. Sec. 260a).
Text of SB 51 as amended, from the official record. Connect Plus keeps every version and highlights what changed.Compare versions