Delaware: Does the state observe daylight saving time?
Delaware observes daylight saving time, but a 2019 law would move it to Atlantic time year-round if neighboring states and federal officials act.
SB 73, signed August 12, 2019, would exempt Delaware from daylight saving time and ask the U.S. Secretary of Transportation to move it to the Atlantic time zone. That would keep clocks at Eastern daylight time all year. It happens only if New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Maryland pass similar laws and the federal government moves Delaware's time zone.
Conditions
- New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Maryland must each enact a similar request
- U.S. Secretary of Transportation must place Delaware in the Atlantic time zone
What the law says
The Governor shall request that the United States Secretary of Transportation place this State in the Atlantic standard time zone if the State of New York, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, State of New Jersey, and State of Maryland each enact a law requesting the Secretary to place their respective state in the Atlantic standard time zone.
Sources
- 82 Del. Laws c. 193 (SB 73, 2019) Official · legis.delaware.gov
- Del. Code tit. 1, 801 (contingent) Official · delcode.delaware.gov
- NCSL, Daylight Saving Time State Legislation Secondary · ncsl.org
Confirm with the state
- Agency
- Delaware General Assembly
- Phone
- 302-744-4114
- Website
- legis.delaware.gov
How bordering states compare
- Maryland Observes DSTMaryland observes daylight saving time and has not enacted a law to change that.
- New Jersey Observes DSTNew Jersey observes daylight saving time under state law and has not enacted a year-round time law.
- Pennsylvania Observes DSTPennsylvania observes daylight saving time and has not enacted a law to change it.