The overwhelming majority of residents of the state and country have supported PERMANENT STANDARD TIME. For some reason, the opposite keeps getting proposed. Now is the time to END DAYLIGHT SAVINGS forever, and use real time. It is evidentially and scientifically better for all humans.

Please do not vote to change to permanent Daylight Savings Time. This is unnatural and unhealthy. Please freeze time on permanent STANDARD time.

NO to HB9 Dear Committee, please oppose HB9, from Delegate McNamara. This bill would extend Daylight Saving Time permanently into winter. It would make sunrise later than 8am from November into February, and around 8:30am in January. That much morning darkness would be depressing and dangerous. Permanent DST is against federal law because it was a disaster for schools, businesses, and commuters when tried in 1974. We need instead permanent Eastern Standard Time, which is pre-approved by federal law, and which is naturally better for sleep, health, mood, safety, education, and economy. No on HB9. Amend to EST. Thank you!

Committee, please oppose HB9, from Delegate McNamara. This bill would extend Daylight Saving Time permanently into winter. It would make sunrise later than 8am from November into February, and around 8:30am in January. That much morning darkness would be depressing and dangerous. Permanent DST is against federal law because it was a disaster for schools, businesses, and commuters when tried in 1974. We need instead permanent Eastern Standard Time, which is pre-approved by federal law, and which is naturally better for sleep, health, mood, safety, education, and economy. No on HB9. Amend to EST. Thank you!

Committee, please oppose HB9, from Delegate McNamara. This bill would extend Daylight Saving Time permanently into winter. It would make sunrise later than 8am from November into February, and around 8:30am in January. That much morning darkness would be depressing and dangerous. Permanent DST is against federal law because it was a disaster for schools, businesses, and commuters when tried in 1974. We need instead permanent Eastern Standard Time, which is pre-approved by federal law, and which is naturally better for sleep, health, mood, safety, education, and economy. No on HB9. Amend to EST. Thank you!

Dear Committee, please oppose HB9, from Delegate McNamara. This bill would extend Daylight Saving Time permanently into winter. It would make sunrise later than 8am from November into February, and around 8:30am in January. That much morning darkness would be depressing and dangerous. Permanent DST is against federal law because it was a disaster for schools, businesses, and commuters when tried in 1974. We need instead permanent Eastern Standard Time, which is pre-approved by federal law, and which is naturally better for sleep, health, mood, safety, education, and economy. No on HB9. Amend to EST. Thank you!

Dear Committee, please do oppose HB9, from Delegate McNamara. This bill would extend Daylight Saving Time permanently into winter. According to the is detrimental to human health and safety.. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine is opposed to permanent Daylight Savings Time https://jcsm.aasm.org/doi/10.5664/jcsm.878The Virginia Academy of Sleep Medicine, of which I am a member, also opposes permanent Daylight Savings Time. Instead,8 the VASM supports permanent Standard Time which in the case of Virginia would be permanent Eastern Standard Time. https://img1.wsimg.com/blobby/go/cf6d1ccc-ecaf-4370-b202-d9d43f0a9549/downloads/VASM_DST%20position_7.27.2021.docx.pdf?ver=1769708995635 Please vote No on HB9. Please Amend to EST. Thank you!

I ask that you support HB9 in the interest of safety. The time change causes a disruption in sleep and regular patterns. Whether keeping the time to standard or daylight does not matter. As a school teacher I know that learning is disrupted for several weeks after the change. Those disruptions twice a year cost valuable opportunities. Also, traffic accidents are more frequent. Please support HB9. Thank you.

Dear Committee, please oppose HB9, from Delegate McNamara. This bill would extend Daylight Saving Time permanently into winter. It would make sunrise later than 8am from November into February, and around 8:30am in January. That much morning darkness would be depressing and dangerous. Permanent DST is against federal law because it was a disaster for schools, businesses, and commuters when tried in 1974. We need instead permanent Eastern Standard Time, which is pre-approved by federal law, and which is naturally better for sleep, health, mood, safety, education, and economy. No on HB9. Amend to EST. Thank you!

Dear Committee, please oppose HB9, from Delegate McNamara. This bill would extend Daylight Saving Time permanently into winter. It would make sunrise later than 8am from November into February, and around 8:30am in January. That much morning darkness would be depressing and dangerous. Permanent DST is against federal law because it was a disaster for schools, businesses, and commuters when tried in 1974. We need instead permanent Eastern Standard Time, which is pre-approved by federal law, and which is naturally better for sleep, health, mood, safety, education, and economy. No on HB9. Amend to EST. Thank you!

Vote NO to HB9. NO to permanent daylight savings time. In Virginia, Eastern Standard Time is the most normal, easy to live with time and I would prefer it, permanently. If reason for extending the already late sunset time in the months of June, July, and August, then consider a switch to "daylight savings" just for those months. Allow us to enjoy the early morning light when it returns in April! Thank you. Karen Knopes, Fairfax Station 22039

No on HB9. My son’s development is hurt by daylight saving time. Adequate sleep is non-negotiable to prevent brain and blood disorders. Teens are vaping to get energy. Sleep regulates glucose -metabolism which can affect development of diabetes. I am a licensed home health aide paid by Medicaid and Medicare. Elderly are requesting schedule change to 10:00 a.m. instead of 9:00 a.m. to sleep. We are not paid the $14 or $15 for that hour. I am looking for a new job it already pays too little anyway. Showering elderly and draining catheter bags for $15/ hour. Southern Indiana is on same time zone as Long Island parents are putting their children to bed at 8:30 it is still light out during daylight saving time. Lots of reasons no one wants to be a parent anymore too expensive and difficult. Government doesn’t even support children or parents. Also harder to get my teen to 10:00 Mass. Church is emptier during daylight saving time. Stop playing God and changing the time! Children have a right to standard time.

Dear Committee, Please oppose HB9, from Delegate McNamara. I am a board certified Sleep Medicine physician, who lives in Washington DC, and works in Northern Virginia every day of the week. additionally, I sit on the American Academy of Sleep Medicine advocacy committee. This bill would extend Daylight Saving Time permanently into winter. It would make sunrise later than 8am from November into February, and around 8:30am in January. That much morning darkness would be depressing and dangerous. Permanent DST is against federal law because it was a disaster for schools, businesses, and commuters when tried in 1974. We need instead permanent Eastern Standard Time, which is pre-approved by federal law, and which is naturally better for sleep, health, mood, safety, education, and economy. No on HB9. Amend to EST. Thank you! Ashtaad Dalal, MD

No on HB9! Standard time is best!

Dear Members of the Committee, please oppose HB9, from Delegate McNamara for many reasons. Permanent Daylight Saving time goes against our natural sleep cycle. In fact even having Daylight Saving time for part of the year is unhealthy. We have tried this and it failed. Daylight Time is not the preferred time. When we consider changing the calendar to keep one time year-round, it should be Standard Time. It's even in the name, "Standard." To manipulate the clocks to appeal to a small segment of the population is unfair, unhealthy, and dangerous. I strongly encourage you to follow science including the American Medical Association and not follow these small business interests who have decided that their bottom financial line is more important than the health of millions of Americans. Please, I urge you, ditch Daylight Saving Time and move to permanent Standard Time. Thank you. Warmly, Michael Riley

Dear Committee Members, I urge you to oppose HB9. As a sleep clinician, a sleep researcher, and a parent of young school‑aged children, I cannot overstate how harmful permanent Daylight Saving Time would be for the health, safety, and daily functioning of Virginians. My perspective comes not only from lived experience as a parent, but from a career spent studying sleep, circadian rhythms, and their impact on public health. I have published over 160 peer-reviewed scientific manuscripts (the majority focusing on sleep health), worked directly with patients struggling with sleep disorders, contributed to national conversations on evidence‑based sleep policy, and am the former Director of the Behavioral Medicine Clinical Psychology doctoral program at Virginia Commonwealth University. The scientific literature is unequivocal: aligning social schedules with biological timing is essential for healthy sleep, cognitive performance, and safety. HB9 would push winter sunrises past 8:00 a.m. for months, and to nearly 8:30 a.m. in January. That level of morning darkness is not a minor inconvenience—it directly conflicts with human biology. Children, adolescents, and adults rely on morning light to regulate circadian rhythms, support alertness, stabilize mood, and ensure safe driving and learning. Removing that light during the hours when millions of Virginians must commute or attend school is a predictable recipe for more fatigue, more crashes, and poorer academic performance. We have already seen the consequences. Permanent DST was attempted nationally in 1974 and was quickly abandoned because it created dangerous conditions for students, workers, and commuters. Federal law still prohibits permanent DST for this reason. The science has only grown stronger since then. If Virginia wishes to take action, the evidence overwhelmingly supports adopting permanent Eastern Standard Time—an option already permitted under federal law. Standard Time aligns with human circadian biology and is consistently associated with better sleep, better health, improved mood, safer roads, and stronger educational outcomes. It is the only choice that protects public health rather than undermining it. For the wellbeing of our children, our workforce, and our communities, I respectfully but strongly urge you to vote No on HB9 and amend any time‑change legislation to adopt permanent Eastern Standard Time instead. Thank you for your consideration. Respectfully, Joseph M Dzierzewski, PhD Senior Vice President, Research and Scientific Affairs National Sleep Foundation

Please oppose HB9 (from Delegate McNamara), a bill to extend Daylight Saving Time (DST) permanently into winter, as is federally prohibited, is opposed by nearly all nonprofits, and is shown by history and science to be worse than the status quo. Please amend to permanent Standard Time, as is sought by SB541 (from Senator Stuart). HB9’s permanent DST (fast time), has long been federally prohibited because it would be worse than biannual clock changes. It would delay Virginia sunrise past 8am (when most school/work starts) for 2–4 months, as late as 8:45am. It has failed repeatedly, with disruption to business and loss of life. DST is a false clock, set an hour ahead of Standard Time. Moving clocks to DST acutely deprives sleep; leaving clocks on DST chronically deprives sleep. DST’s circadian misalignment increases accidents, illnesses, and health costs. It decreases learning, productivity, and earnings. Permanent DST doesn’t alleviate harms, it magnifies them. It deprives sunlight from mornings, when it’s needed most by working families. It reverts benefits of starting school later. It increases residential heating and air conditioning. It delays AM radio news broadcasts until most people begin work. It disrupts sun-timed prayers. It’s a hidden mandate to wake an hour early all winter in cold darkness. Anyone wanting DST should simply start his/her own day earlier. SB541’s permanent Standard Time (natural time) instead is the only federally permitted way to end disruptive clock changes, as most voters wish. Standard Time aligns clocks more honestly to the sun, which balances morning and evening sunlight for everyone. Its benefits to circadian health improve immunity, longevity, mood, alertness, and performance in school, sports, and work. Standard Time protects start times and preserves the morning sunlight that’s essential for schoolchildren, commuters, outdoor laborers, and service personnel. It lets most people sleep naturally past dawn year-round, and it makes bedtimes easier for families. It has been observed without incident in Arizona, Hawaii, all US territories, and most nations for many decades. Mexico restored permanent Standard Time in 2022. Canada is now considering it, as are DC, Kentucky, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, New York, and many more. Government should set clocks objectively to the sun, then let the public set schedules from there. Gallup finds plurality public support for permanent Standard Time (48%), not for permanent DST (24%). Countless organizations and advocates on the left and right oppose permanent DST and endorse permanent Standard Time. Among these are the Southern Sleep Society, National Safety Council, American Academy of Sleep Medicine, Sleep Research Society, Society for Research on Biological Rhythms, National Sleep Foundation, American Academy of Neurology, American Thoracic Society, American College of Chest Physicians, American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Canadian Sleep Research Consortium, Canadian Sleep Society, Canadian Society for Chronobiology, editorial boards of Bloomberg, Orlando Sentinel, Minnesota Star Tribune, Oregonian, contributors to Daily Wire, PragerU, Human Events, Cato, Breaking Points, and more. Please hear the nonpartisan consensus of history and science. Save time, money, and lives. End the harms of artificial DST, and restore naturally healthful permanent Standard Time. Vote no on HB9, or amend to match SB541.

My comments relate to two bills: HB 9 and HB 285. I've read numerous reports about the time change and its effects on our circadian rhythm. After so many years of living with time changes, I am more than ready for our state to stick with standard time. Permanent daylight savings time is not the answer. I urge the committee members to vote no on HB 9. I urge committee members to endorse HB 285, which will recommend measures to coordinate and expand Distributed Energy Resources (DER) deployment in the state. VA needs to align its policy with PJM’s 2027 requirements, and remove barriers to market-driven solutions. DER has, when allowed to do so, a great track record in rapid deployment at lower costs than infrastructure such as gas and nuclear plants. The bill's proposed membership—state agencies, utilities, DER companies, local governments, energy customers, and consumer advocates—ensures broad input while avoiding utility veto power. This approach allows Virginia to build a coherent state strategy for DER growth, which is badly needed, especially for Virginia schools. Virginia will also be able to enhance grid reliability and affordability, and remain competitive in the Mid-Atlantic’s rapidly evolving energy landscape.

United Cherokee Indian deserve recognition stop playing with us .. our history speaks stop playing with us again you steady playing with us in our faces oblivious you folks need to step down from your position due to your actions ain’t working

Honorable Delegates, I oppose HB9. Daylight saving time (DST) may be popular by association with summer, but it does not work well in winter. When the US tried year-round DST in 1974 to mitigate a foreign oil embargo, the public found the darker winter mornings unsafe, and Congress had to cut the experiment short. Since then, energy usage has changed; human responses to light and darkness have not. The attached maps show the latest sunrise times and the number of days with sunrise at 8:00 AM or later under year-round Eastern standard time (EST) or Eastern daylight time (EDT) in Virginia. Doctors [5] and biologists [6], finding that morning light is the strongest factor in establishing a healthy circadian rhythm, have determined that year-round standard time is more healthful than either seasonal or year-round DST. In a 7-year study during which Russia had each of those policies, Borisenkov et al. [1] found that adolescents experienced the most seasonal depression under year-round DST. Other studies have found elevated rates of cancer [3], diabetes [4], and fatal accidents [2] where civil time is far ahead of solar time. In Virginia, depending on location, EST is 1 to 34 minutes ahead of mean solar time, and EDT is 61 to 94 minutes ahead. Current US law [7] gives states two options: seasonal DST on the national schedule, or year-round standard time as in Hawaii and Arizona. Year-round DST is neither of those; in states which have enacted laws for it anyway, residents wonder why they still change clocks up to 8 years later. The leading bill in Congress, the "Sunshine Protection Act," would require year-round DST in every state which isn't already opting out, making those state laws redundant. For those who truly just want to stop changing clocks, year-round standard time as in SB541 would actually achieve that for Virginians, without darkening winter mornings, increasing chronic health problems, or waiting for Congress. HB9 is not the way. I respectfully ask the committee not to advance it. References: [1] Borisenkov et al. 2017. Seven-year survey of sleep timing in Russian children and adolescents: chronic 1-h forward transition of social clock is associated with increased social jetlag and winter pattern of mood seasonality. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/09291016.2016.1223778 [2] Gentry et al. 2022. Living in the wrong time zone: Elevated risk of traffic fatalities in eccentric time localities. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0961463X221104675 [3] Gu et al. 2017. Longitude position in a time zone and cancer risk in the United States. https://aacrjournals.org/cebp/article/26/8/1306/283057/Longitude-Position-in-a-Time-Zone-and-Cancer-Risk [4] Koopman et al. 2017. The association between social jetlag, the metabolic syndrome, and type 2 diabetes mellitus in the general population: The New Hoorn study. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0748730417713572 [5] Rishi et al. 2024. Permanent standard time is the optimal choice for health and safety: an American Academy of Sleep Medicine position statement. https://jcsm.aasm.org/doi/10.5664/jcsm.10898 [6] Roenneberg et al. 2019. Why should we abolish daylight saving time? https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0748730419854197 [7] 15 US Code §260a. Advancement of time or changeover dates. https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/15/260a

My name George Craig and I live in Winchester,, VA. I am writing in favor of HB 8 and ask for your support and "yes" vote. It is important for Virginia to be prepared when there is an Article V convention called and to ensure the commissioner sent follow the limitation of their authority. Thank you.

Sick and tired of clock switching and procrastinating and getting mugged at the dead of night at 8PM!

Delegates, I am writing to express my support for HB9, which would move Virginia to permanent Daylight Saving Time if permitted under federal law. I support this bill because keeping consistent, year-round daylight in the evenings aligns with how most Virginians live and work today. Extended evening daylight encourages outdoor activity after work, supports local businesses, and improves public safety during peak travel and recreation hours. Research has shown that additional evening daylight is associated with lower rates of certain crimes, increased consumer spending, and greater participation in outdoor and community activities. Many families benefit from safer, brighter evenings for walking, exercising, and youth sports. From an economic standpoint, small businesses—particularly in retail, hospitality, and recreation—benefit when people are more likely to be out in their communities after work. I believe HB9 represents a practical, forward-looking approach that reflects modern schedules and evidence-based outcomes. I appreciate the General Assembly’s consideration of this issue and respectfully urge you to support HB9. Thank you. Julie Atwater Christiansburg VA