Rhode Island: Does the state observe daylight saving time?
Rhode Island's law moves its clocks forward one hour each spring and back each fall.
State law sets daylight saving time from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November. A 2026 Senate bill would move Rhode Island to permanent standard time, but only if Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont do the same. It was referred to committee, and no enactment was found.
What the law says
At two o'clock antemeridian (2:00 a.m.) of the second Sunday in March of each year, the standard time in this state shall be advanced one hour, and at two o'clock antemeridian (2:00 a.m.) of the first Sunday in November of each year the standard time in this state shall, by the retarding of one hour, be made to coincide with the mean astronomical time of the degree of longitude governing the zone wherein the state is situated, the standard official time of which is described as United States standard eastern time
Sources
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-5-1 (Period of daylight saving time) Official · webserver.rilegislature.gov
- R.I. Gen. Laws chapter 42-5 index Official · webserver.rilegislature.gov
- R.I. 2026 Senate Bill 2179 (text) Official · webserver.rilegislature.gov
- NCSL, Daylight Saving Time State Legislation Secondary · ncsl.org
Confirm with the state
- Agency
- Rhode Island General Assembly
- Website
- rilegislature.gov
How bordering states compare
- Connecticut Observes DSTConnecticut observes daylight saving time under state law and has no enacted law to change that.
- Massachusetts Observes DSTMassachusetts observes daylight saving time and has no enacted law to switch to year-round daylight or standard time.
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