鈥極ne issue people agree on鈥�: Bill to keep state in standard time comes up on first hurdle
Jan 15, 2024, 2:14 PM | Updated: 3:16 pm
A selection of vintage clocks are displayed at the Electric Time Company. (Photo: Charles Krupa, AP)
(Photo: Charles Krupa, AP)
A bill that would聽聽will soon look to clear its first hurdle in the state legislature.
聽is the latest in a series of efforts to end the state鈥檚 twice-yearly time changes. In 2019, lawmakers passed a bill to keep Washington in permanent Daylight Saving Time. Ever since then, the state has been stuck waiting on federal approval to have that take effect.
A shift to standard time wouldn鈥檛 require any such approval and could go into effect right away.
While this isn鈥檛 the first time the legislature has taken up a standard time bill since 2019, lawmakers hope that a renewed bipartisan push could help get it over the finish line this time around.
鈥淚f there is one issue most people agree on, it鈥檚 the dislike of moving their clocks from standard time to daylight saving time in the spring and then back to standard time in the fall,鈥� co-sponsor Republican State Sen. Mike Padden said.
Supporters of the bill聽聽that have 鈥渃onnected a number of health consequences鈥� to the biannual switch. That includes a higher risk of heart attacks, more workplace injuries, and increased suicide risks.
SB 5795 will get its first hearing on Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. in the Senate State Government and Elections Committee.
