Virginia 2027 Regular Session Status: Passed Senate

SB 541 — Time zone; permanent Eastern Standard Time in the Commonwealth.

Last action — Continued from last session

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed House of Delegates
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has passed the Senate. Introduced January 13, 2026. It now moves to the second chamber.

Next likely step: consideration and a floor vote in the House of Delegates.

Odds of enactment

High chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a high chance of becoming law.

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A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Stalled 30% · moderate confidence

  • Passed Senate

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 3 sponsors

    1 primary, 2 co-sponsors signed on.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

In plain language

This bill establishes year-round Eastern Standard Time for the Commonwealth.

The bill will make Eastern Standard Time permanent in the Commonwealth once similar laws are passed in D.C. and Maryland. This change means residents would not switch to Daylight Saving Time.

Summary

Time zone; permanent Eastern Standard Time in the Commonwealth. Provides that the Commonwealth shall observe Eastern Standard Time year-round upon the District of Columbia and the State of Maryland enacting legislation providing that United States Eastern Standard Time shall be observed in all parts of the respective district or state year-round.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

26 added · 24 removed

Plain-language change summary

The amendments to SB 541 clarify the bill's language regarding time zones in Virginia, specifically the transition to permanent Eastern Standard Time. The changes remove previous references to other states and conditions required for the bill to take effect. This matters because it simplifies the legislation, making it more straightforward and actionable for Virginia to adopt permanent Eastern Standard Time without relying on the actions of other states or federal amendments.

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+ 2027 SESSION + + + INTRODUCED + + 26101613D SENATE BILL NO.
+ 2027 SESSION + + + ENGROSSED + + 26101613D SENATE BILL NO.
541 I Offered January 14, 2026 N A BILL to amend and reenact § 1-253 of the Code of Virginia, relating to time zone;
541 Senate Amendments in [ ] - February 16, 2026 A BILL to amend and reenact § 1-253 of the Code of Virginia, relating to time zone;
permanent Eastern T Standard Time in the Commonwealth.
permanent Eastern Standard Time in the Commonwealth.
————— R Patrons—Stuart, Craig and Mulchi O ————— Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology D ————— U Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
————— Patrons Prior to Engrossment—Senators Stuart, Craig and Mulchi ————— Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology E ————— Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
C 1.
N 1.
E The United States Eastern Standard Time shall be in effect in all parts of the Commonwealth except during the period when the United States Eastern Daylight Time at all times, as provided by federal law.
G The United States Eastern Standard Time shall be in effect in all parts of the Commonwealth except R during the period when the United States Eastern Daylight Time at all times, as provided by federal law.
This section shall not be construed to be in contravention of federal law, or duly authorized orders of the United States U.S.
ThiO section shall not be construed to be in contravention of federal law, or duly authorized orders of the United States U.S.
In all laws, statutes, orders, decrees, rules, and regulations relating to the time of performance of any act by any officer or agency of the Commonwealth, or any political subdivision thereof, or relating to the time in which any rights shall accrue or determine, or within which any act shall or shall not be performed by any person subject to the jurisdiction of the Commonwealth, and in all public schools, institutions of the Commonwealth or its political subdivisions, and contracts or choses in action made or to be performed in the Commonwealth, it shall be understood and intended that the time applicable thereto or referred to or implied S therein shall be the United States Eastern Standard Time, or the United States Eastern Daylight Time, when B and during such is in effect.
S In all laws, statutes, orders, decrees, rules, and regulations relating to the time of performance of any act by any officer or agency of the Commonwealth, or any political subdivision thereof, or relating to the time in which any rights shall accrue or determine, or within which any act shall or shall not be performed by any D person subject to the jurisdiction of the Commonwealth, and in all public schools, institutions of the Commonwealth or its political subdivisions, and contracts or choses in action made or to be performed in the Commonwealth, it shall be understood and intended that the time applicable thereto or referred to or implied therein shall be the United States Eastern Standard Time, or the United States Eastern Daylight Time, when and during such is in effect.
4 For purposes of this section, "United States Eastern Standard Time" means the standard time, as 1 described in 15 U.S.C.
For purposes of this section, "United States Eastern Standard Time" means the standard time, as described in 15 U.S.C.
That the provisions of this act shall become effective upon the enactment of an amendment to 15 U.S.C.
That the provisions of this act shall become effective upon the [ enactment of an amendment to 15 S U.S.C.
§ 260, or another applicable law, that authorizes states to observe United States Eastern Standard Time year-round.
§ 260, or another applicable law, that authorizes states to observe United States Eastern B Standard Time District of Columbia and the State of Maryland enacting legislation providing that 5 United States Eastern Standard Time shall be observed in all parts of the respective district or state ] 1 E year-round.
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Action History

  1. Continued from last session

  2. Continued to next session in Rules (Voice Vote)

  3. Subcommittee recommends continuing to (Voice Vote)

  4. Assigned HRUL sub: Studies Subcommittee

  5. Referred to Committee on Rules

  6. Read first time

  7. Placed on Calendar

  8. Read third time and passed Senate (24-Y 16-N 0-A)

  9. Engrossed by Senate as amended (Voice Vote)

  10. General Laws and Technology Amendment agreed to

  11. Read second time

  12. Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

  13. Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (36-Y 0-N 0-A)

  14. Rules suspended

  15. Reported from General Laws and Technology with amendment (11-Y 4-N)

  16. Senate committee offered

  17. Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology

  18. Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26101613D

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 2 co-sponsors · 145 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (2)

Not signed on (145)

145 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 145 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does SB 541 do?
Time zone; permanent Eastern Standard Time in the Commonwealth. Provides that the Commonwealth shall observe Eastern Standard Time year-round upon the District of Columbia and the State of Maryland enacting legislation providing that United States Eastern Standard Time shall be observed in all parts of the respective district or state year-round.
Who sponsors SB 541?
SB 541 is sponsored by Tammy Brankley Mulchi, Christie New Craig, and Richard H. Stuart.
What is the current status of SB 541?
This bill has passed the Senate. Introduced January 13, 2026. It now moves to the second chamber.
Where can I track SB 541?
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