Every March, the clocks jump forward—in the fall, we switch them right back. But what if NJ lawmakers could stop this twice-yearly ritual?

New Jersey could make daylight saving time year-round, but not without overcoming some major hurdles. 

Daylight Saving Time: The Regional Trap

New Jersey lawmakers have discussed ending the ritual, while Delaware has already made the move.

In 2019, Delaware lawmakers passed legislation to make daylight saving time permanent. In 2026, the law still hasn’t taken effect. But why? 

Federal law requires regional coordination among neighboring states. If Delaware goes permanent while its neighbors stay on the twice-yearly schedule, time zones will splinter—creating chaos for half the year. 

Delaware is waiting for three states—Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Maryland—to pass the same legislation. Until they do, everyone keeps changing their clocks.

What New Jersey Actually Wants

The data is clear. A 2025 Gallup survey found 54% of Americans oppose changing the clocks twice a year.

New Jersey falls into that majority. State legislators have attempted multiple bills to make permanent time a reality, but none have become law.

The objections vary. Some argue daylight saving wastes energy instead of saving it (a claim backed by modern research). Others just want consistency. 

However, if the other states can’t get on board, then what the people want doesn’t matter. 

The Domino Effect

This is the real obstacle: You can’t unilaterally opt out of daylight saving time without federal exemption. 

Hawaii and Arizona did it—they’re the only states that never observe the time change. But getting there required legislative action, federal coordination, and years of pragmatism. 

For New Jersey, the path forward requires all four Mid-Atlantic states to move simultaneously. If one state gets rid of the change while the others keep it, chaos ensues. Suddenly, regional banks have to support multiple time zones, supply chains get stretched, and digital systems break.  

What Would Actually Move The Needle

Federal support would help to make daylight savings a permanent reality. In 2024, President Trump called the bi-annual time change “inconvenient and very costly.” 

He’s not alone. The Uniform Time Act, passed in 1966, technically allows states to exempt themselves from the time change—but only to standard time, AKA winter time, and not daylight time. 

Changing federal law to allow permanent daylight time nationwide would get rid of a massive hurdle. States could act independently through passing legislation instead of waiting for others.

Permanent Daylight Saving Time is Still Possible

New Jersey could change their clocks for the last time

this spring if the right conditions aligned: federal law reform or regional coordination from Pennsylvania and Maryland. 

For now, the state remains tethered to what many consider an outdated practice. The question isn’t whether New Jersey can ditch daylight saving time. It’s how we get there.