For the 14th consecutive year, Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara will host his annual Student Cabinet program at the New York State Capitol – giving local students the opportunity to participate in a hands-on mock legislative hearing focused on a major issue currently being debated at both the state and federal levels.

This year’s hearing topic: “Daylight Saving Time and the School Day: What Works Best for Students and Communities?”

The debate over changing the clocks has been ongoing in the United States for more than 100 years, dating back to World War I. In recent years, dozens of states – including New York – along with members of Congress, have introduced legislation and proposals examining whether the country should move to permanent daylight saving time, permanent standard time, or continue the current system of changing clocks twice each year.

This year’s Student Cabinet hearing will focus on how these proposals impact students, schools, families, businesses, and everyday life, including:

• student sleep and alertness
• learning and classroom performance
• transportation safety and dark morning bus stops
• athletics and after-school activities
• family schedules and daily routines
• work schedules and business activity
• community safety and quality of life
• extracurricular participation and student jobs

Students participating in the hearing will question witnesses, hear testimony from multiple perspectives, and debate how changing the clock could affect schools and communities throughout New York State.

Scheduled and invited participants include:

Dr. Jonathan Halpert, physician and owner of Priority 1 Urgent Care Thomas O’Connor, Capital Region Chamber of Commerce representative Carla Pasquarelli, Athletic Trainer from Amsterdam High School

Additional students, educators, transportation officials, business leaders, and policy experts

The Student Cabinet is designed to give students firsthand experience with the legislative process while engaging directly with current public policy debates affecting their daily lives.

“During my time in the New York State Assembly, my Student Cabinet program has provided students a meaningful opportunity to participate in discussions about a number of public policy issues,” said Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara. “This year’s hearing focuses on the real-world impacts changing the clocks can have on students, schools, families, businesses, and communities – while giving students the opportunity to participate in a debate that continues across the country.”

EVENT DETAILS:

WHAT: 2026 Student Cabinet Mock Legislative Hearing: “Daylight Saving Time and the School Day”

WHEN: Monday, May 18^th, 9:30am -12pm, media availability at 11am

WHERE: Hearing Room B, Legislative Office Building, New York State Capitol, Albany, New York