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.
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) also tracks state and federal legislation on later school start times, with periodic updates.

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.

AASM Legislative Tracker

The dates in brackets indicate when an item was added or updated. Bills related to school starting hours have been introduced in at least 22 U.S. states and territories. 

State Legislation (Pending)

CONNECTICUT

HB5522. An Act Concerning Later Start Time at Public Schools that would amend the general statutes to require "later start times" for all public schools. Referred to Joint Committee on Education 1/18/23.

MASSACHUSETTS

HD5140. An Act relative to school start times for middle and high school students. By Mr. Fernandes of Falmouth (by request), a petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Zorianna Petrosyan relative to school start times for middle and high school students. Referred to House Committee on Rules (6/10/22).
MA H3980. Resolve authorizing a study of starting times and schedules sponsored by Rep. Carmine Gentile and the House Committee on Education. Resolve reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on House Ways and Means. Pending: House Ways and Means Committee (7/21/21)

NEW JERSEY

A3816/S2462. Assembly Speaker Craig J. Coughlin and Senator Vin Gopal introduced legislation in March 2022, which proposes to push statewide high school start times in New Jersey to no earlier than 8.30 a.m. beginning in the 2024-2025 school year. (3/25/22) Introduced, Referred to Assembly Education Committee (5/2/22).

NEW YORK

A0040. Assemblyman Harvey Epstein, D-New York City introduced a bill that would amend the state's education law by requiring all public schools to start no earlier than 8:30 a.m. and to withhold state funding from any public school failing to do so. Referred to Education Committee (1/9/23),

TEXAS

HB1691, Relating to the Time at Which Instruction May Begin in Public Schools. Introduced by Rep. Jolanda Jones, this bill would prevent any K-12 instruction before 8 a.m. Introduced (1/26/23).

State Successes

CALIFORNIA

SB328, (2018), 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 was 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) Passed out of Assembly Education Committee and moved on to the Appropriations Committee for consideration (7/10/19). Passed by State Assembly (7/13-14/19). Signed into law (10/13/19). [This was the third time SB328 was considered.. When first introduced in 2017 it passed out of committee but did not receive enough votes to pass out of the legislature. In 2018 the same bill was resubmitted and, while passed by the full legislature, was ultimately vetoed by Governor Jerry Brown, who cited the opposition of one of the state's two major teacher's unions and state school board association and the appropriateness of "local control." Finally, in the 2018-19 session, the California State PTA made the bill its top priority, co-sponsoring it with Start School Later, and this time despite continued and well-funded opposition, it was signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom for enactment beginning July 1, 2022.]

CONNECTICUT

Senate Bill 1, or an Act Concerning Childhood Mental and Physical Health Services in Schools, includes proposals such as increasing funding for social workers in schools, the use of Narcan training for school nurses and teachers, providing Narcan to school districts and offering mental health training to coaches of youth sports. (2/15/22) Signed by Governor 5/24/22 but unclear how it will be used to support later school start times.

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

S2485/A3845. Education, P.L.,15 Chapter 96 (2015) an Act Requiring the Department of Education to Conduct a Study on School Start Times. Read the resulting 2017 report.)
S3160 (2018)/A4865 (2019). An Act Establishing a Pilot Program ... on Later School Start Times for High School Students)

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 were issued in October 2019.

UTAH

House Concurrent Resolution 3.In December 2019 Representative Suzanne Harrison introduced a resolution encouraging districts to look at later high school start times. (12/15/19) Favorable recommendation (unanimous) from House Education Committee (2/3/20). Passed by House (2/11/20). Unanimously passed by Senate and now going to Governor for signature (2/21/20). Signed into law 3/24/2020).

National Legislation

ZZZ's to A's Act (HR8787), introduced by U.S. Representative Zoe Lofgren 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 August 31, 2022)

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.

Know of a bill that's not here? Contact us!

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