Daylight saving time takes effect after Utah Senate halts bill to eliminate it

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SALT LAKE CITY – It’s the time of year when we “lose” an hour of sleep. Sunday, we set our clocks forward one hour to mark daylight saving time. It ushers the decades-old debate: Should we stick with it or ditch it? The legislative session wrapped up on Friday, and one Utah lawmaker was hoping that this time around a bill to end daylight saving time would get some traction. The House supported it, but it couldn't pass a Senate committee.

What Utahns want

Whether you embrace daylight saving time or dread it, everyone agrees you have to prepare mentally and emotionally. “I’m not horribly opposed to it,” Megan Williams said. Brad Barney who is visiting Utah said it takes some getting used to. “From winter it’s a little bit harder getting up in the morning. And once you get to spring it’s even harder because you’re losing an hour," Barney said. Salt Lake City mom of two, Rilee Buttars, said it will be an adjustment for her two-year-old and eight-year-old. “Tomorrow with school, and daycare and everything – it’s going to be just not fun," she said. Utahns won’t be ending the twice-yearly ritual of changing the clocks anytime soon. The bill by Rep. Joseph Elison, R-Washington County, in this year’s legislative session died in a Senate committee. “They said commerce, trucking, airlines, recreation, there were lots of reasons cited,” Elison said. Elison felt the momentum changing this year. A survey conducted by the Deseret News Hinckley Institute of Politics showed 81% percent of registered voters backed his bill. “Unfortunately, the survey wasn’t done in time,” Elison said.

Next steps

Right now, Utah can stay on MT daylight time year-round when the federal government allows it, or if five neighboring states adopt a similar policy. His bill would have stopped the constant clock changes. “My approach was a little different," Elison said. "Let’s put a standard in the meantime. We’ll still go to savings time if the federal government makes that change." Until then, Utahns can count on longer days and shorter nights and plenty more debate. “Let’s do it, let’s just be bold. Let’s be like Arizona,”Buttars said. Elison isn’t giving up just yet. He is talking with Utah congresswoman Celeste Maloy about her efforts on the national level. He’ll continue working with senators to possibly bring the bill back next session.