Should Massachusetts stop changing its clocks?

Massachusetts lawmakers are once again debating whether the state should stop the twice-a-year clock change.

Senate President Karen E. Spilka on Friday announced her support for legislation (S.2157) that would end the practice of switching between standard time and daylight saving time. 

“Twice a year, Massachusetts residents scramble to adjust their routines, deal with disruptions to their kids’ sleep schedules, and have their lives unsettled generally,” Spilka said in a news release.

The bill, filed by State Senator John F. Keenan, would move Massachusetts to a permanent time system instead.

Supporters, like Keenan, say changing the clocks twice a year disrupts sleep schedules, daily routines, and public health.

“Observing Atlantic Standard Time year-round would decrease energy usage, reduce the risk of heart attacks, strokes, car accidents, and increase workplace productivity,” he said in the release.

Research from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health has linked the time change to short-term increases in heart attacks, strokes, and hospital admissions. 

Other studies from the Stanford School of Medicine and Northwestern Medicine have tied circadian rhythm disruptions to health issues including stroke risk, depression, and weight gain.

The proposal is currently being reviewed in the Senate after lawmakers moved the bill to the chamber’s rules committee.

But changing the system could also affect how daylight hours fall throughout the year — something that New Englanders value deeply, given our long winters.

What do you think? Should Massachusetts stop changing the clocks and adopt a permanent time system?

Do you support ending the twice-yearly clock change? Would you prefer permanent daylight saving time or permanent standard time? How does the time change affect your daily routine?

Tell us by filling out the form or e-mailing us at [email protected], and your response may appear in a future Boston.com article.

Annie Jonas is a Community writer at Boston.com. She was previously a local editor at Patch and a freelancer at the Financial Times.