Legislation

Establishing safe, healthy, and developmentally appropriate school hours is a bipartisan effort. The bills listed here are live or likely to be re-introduced. If there's an active bill in your state, contact your elected representatives and ask them to support the legislation. If nothing is happening in your state, lobby your legislators and local officials.

To learn about a bill, click on its number (below), which will take you to the legislature's website.
If we're missing a bill, let us know!
Learn about past legislation, including Congressional efforts.

Establishing a time before which schools should not begin mandated instruction is as fundamental as requiring schools to turn on the heat when the temperature falls below a certain level. Local districts would still set their own hours; they need only meet the minimum 'no earlier than' start time that’s proven to be essential to students’ well-being. It’s time for an evidence-based, sound policy discussion that prioritizes student health and achievement. Teaching adolescents at a time they cannot effectively learn is an ineffective use of public funds and undermines our children’s health and their chances for success today and in the future." - California State Sen. Anthony Portantino,
about his bill to "Start the School Day Later"

Volunteers from Start School Later Maryland pose with Gov. Larry Hogan and legislators at the "Orange Ribbon" bill's signing.

Common Types of School Hours Legislation

1. STUDY BILLS authorize a legislative committee, state agency or special commission to research the school hours issue, report its findings, and make recommendations.

2. INCENTIVE BILLS "reward" (with a designation or actual funding) school districts that take positive action and meet certain standards.

3. MANDATE BILLS establish a statewide minimum standard all districts must meet to ensure that students are provided with safe, healthy, and developmentally appropriate school hours.

The dates in brackets indicate when an item was added or updated. Bills related to school hours have been introduced in at least 14 states. 

State Legislation

CALIFORNIA

SB328, the Start the School Day Later bill, introduced by Sen. Anthony Portantino, "would require the school day for middle schools and high schools to begin no earlier than 8:30 a.m." The legislation was passed by the state legislature in August 2018 but vetoed by outgoing Gov. Jerry Brown. Portantino reintroduced the bill, also numbered SB328, in February 2019. The legislation is co-authored by Assembly Majority Leader Ian Calderon, Senators Scott Wiener and Dr. Richard Pen, and Assemblymembers Todd Gloria and Tasha Boerner Horvath. (Take a look at "School Start Time Research & Information," a downloadable document compiled by Sen. Portantino's office to educate lawmakers and others about the school start time issue. [2/19/19] Passed by the State Senate. (5/21/19)

CONNECTICUT

HB6626, An Act Concerning Later High School Start Times to increase educational outcomes and overall productivity among high school students. Introduced by Rep. Quentin W. Phipps, this bill would amend chapter 164 "of the general statutes be amended to prohibit regularly scheduled instruction classes before 8:30 a.m. in any public high school."
HB6206, An Act Concerning Later Middle and High School Start Times to establish safe, healthy and developmentally appropriate school hours. Introduced by Rep. Jillian Gilchrest, 18th Dist. Referred to Joint Committee on Education. [1/25/19]
HB5976, An Act Establishing a Task Force to Conduct a Study Concerning School Start Times, introduced by Rep. David Rutigliano, Referred to the Joint Committee on Education. [1/24/19]
HB6222, An Act Concerning the Establishment of Later Middle and High School Start Times, would permit school districts to establish later school start times for students in middle and high school that are appropriate to the needs of the school district and its students. Introduced by Rep. Lucy Dathan, 142nd Dist. Referred to the Joint Committee on Education. [1/25/19]

HAWAII

HB318 HD1 Public Schools; Staggered School Start Times; School Bus Service Schedules; Task Force Study, appropriates funds requiring the Department of Education to convene a Staggered School Start Times Task Force to study and evaluate the issues and implications, including effects on school bus schedules. The bill requires a report to the Legislature. Passed the House and referred to the Ways and Means Committee. [3/22/19]

MAINE

LD770, An Act To Provide for a Later Starting Time for High Schools, sponsored by Representative Matthea Daughtry, requires that, by September 1, 2020, each school administrative unit ensures that its secondary schools start no earlier than 8:30 a.m.

MASSACHUSETTS

HD2810, a resolve creating a special commission to study school starting school times and schedules. Presented by Reps. Carmine Lawrence Gentile and Paul Brodeur. [2/9/19]

NEW JERSEY

S3160 (2018) An Act Establishing a Pilot Program ... on Later School Start Times for High School Students, introduced by New Jersey Senator (and former Governor) Richard J. Codey, would implement a pilot program to study, educate and inform the public about the benefits of later school start times, involving five school districts that push back their start times to 8:30 a.m. or later. (Read his op-ed article.) Passed by the Senate Education Committee [3/6/19]. Passed by the State Senate (5/13/19)

SOUTH CAROLINA

SC H3394, sponsored by Rep. Wendell Gilliard, would create a Public School Start Time Study Committee "to determine the benefits of requiring public schools to extend current daily start times by one hour, and to make recommendations to the General Assembly regarding proposed changes to state laws necessary to implement such later start times for public schools." Referred to the Committee on Education and Public Works [1/8/2019]

TEXAS

HB 1602, which seeks to prohibit school districts from beginning classroom instruction before 8 a.m. The amount of $755,076,520 is appropriated from the general revenue fund to the Texas Education Agency to distribute to school districts for the purpose of offsetting any additional transportation costs. [2/11/19]

State Successes

INDIANA

Indiana H.B. 1005 (2016) amended the state code to urge the Legislative Council to assign to the appropriate study committee the topic of school start time effects on “student safety, student achievement, and lost instruction time for students.”

MARYLAND

Education, Section 7-122 (2016) the Orange Ribbon for Healthy School Hours certification recognizes districts that implement start times that are consistent with the hours recommended by the Maryland Department of Education and specified organizations. (See the Orange Ribbon Tool Kit)
HB883 | SB14 (2014) established a Task Force to Study Safe and Healthy School Hours for Maryland Public Schools. (Read its report.)

NEW JERSEY

Education, P.L., Chapter 96 (2014) an Act Requiring the Department of Education to Conduct a Study on School Start Times. Read its report.)

PENNSYLVANIA

SR 417 (2018), a resolution introduced by Sen. Andrew Dinniman, directs the Joint State Government Commission to create a committee to conduct a study of issues, benefits and options related to instituting a later start time for secondary schools. The resolution unanimously passed the Senate in October 2018 and a report and recommendations from the Joint State Government Commission are due back to the Legislature. [4/11/19]

National Legislation

HR1861, introduced by U.S. Representative Zoe Lofgren (also see below), the bill directs the U.S. Secretary of Education to conduct a study to determine the relationship between school start times and adolescent health, well-being, and performance. Introduced and referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor. [3/25/19] Get alerts | All Actions

Back to the Future

Bills are often introduced many times before they succeed. To learn about past legislative efforts — including versions of the "ZZZ's to A's Act," a bill first introduced by Rep. Zoe Lofgren (Calif.) in 1997 — visit our page about Past Legislation. Some of the ideas might work where you live, or inspire something even better.

Local Acts and Actions

Many municipalities and local governments have passed legislation and resolutions related to school day start times. Visit the page of your state or local Start School Later Chapter to learn more.

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