SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — Utah lawmakers are once again moving a bill that is looking to stop our clocks from changing twice a year.
On Wednesday, Jan. 22, H.B. 120, otherwise known as Time Change Amendments, passed through the House Government Operations Committee with unanimous favorability.
The bill, sponsored by Rep. Joseph Elison (R), would allow for Utah to stay on standard time year-round. The state would only change the clocks if the federal law changes to allow for permanent daylight time – at which point, Utah would make the change.
“This bill solves a very simple problem, ” Elison said to the committee. “It’s a recurring problem that we hear every single year, twice a year as representatives. Everybody about it in the grocery stores, at church, in schools, etc.”
Elison said clocks changing is a huge concern for Utahns, saying that 80% of the state wants to keep clocks still. He argued that the only tool Utah legislators have to meet the request of constituents is to move to a permanent standard time.
Only two states in the nation observe permanent standard time – Hawaii and Arizona. Utah previously passed a law that would allow it to switch to daylight saving time permanently if several surrounding states passed similar policies and the United States government allowed for it. Since that bill passed, enough surrounding states have passed similar policies but federal law still prohibits the change to permanent daylight saving time.
During the committee hearing, several spoke in favor of H.B. 120, including Coalition for Permanent Standard Time Co-Chair Jay Pea. Pea argued a switch to permanent standard time would balance morning light and evening light to accommodate all lifestyles and provide several benefits.
“That morning light is especially important to school children, for commuters, construction workers, and service personnel. It also helps the ski industry that needs that morning light,” said Pea. “It also lets us sleep a little bit later in the morning and makes it easier to get to bed on time.”
However, Ryan Peterson, who represented the Golf Alliance for Utah, said permanent standard time would be a detriment to outdoor activities.
“A significant number of our rounds of golf are played in the afternoon in the summer. You cannot play a round of golf after 5 p.m. work ends on standard time,” Peterson said, using golf as his example. He added, “I would love to see them solve this federally and move us to daylight time but this proposal would have a significant negative impact at least on activities in the evening. At least on high school sports and otherwise that don’t have lights.”
H.B. 120 has now been forwarded to the House of Representatives where it is currently waiting for a vote. If passed, the bill would be sent to the Utah Senate for further consideration.
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