By Erin Smith
The NC House passed a bill on Tuesday (April 16) that is seeking to allow North Carolina to end changing from Daylight Saving Time to Standard Time. The bill was proposed in March by NC Representatives Jason Saine, Kelly Hastings, and John Szoka.
The bill, NC House Bill 350, is called the “Designate NC Time Zone/Observe DST All Year” seeks to allow North Carolina to remain on Daylight Saving Time all year long.
The bill reads “The standard time of the State and its political subdivisions is the time designated by the United States Department of Transportation pursuant to the Uniform Time Act of 1966 (1512 U.S.C. §§ 260-267). If authorized by Congress, the State and its political subdivisions shall observe Daylight Saving Time, as provided in U.S.C. § 260a, at all times throughout the year.”
Representative William Brisson, who voted in support of the bill, said, “I don’t really know how the Senate feels about it.”
Rep. Brisson said it will most likely affect the students who ride buses in the winter when it is still dark early in the morning.
“There hasn’t been that much talk about it. It hasn’t gotten that much publicity,” said Brisson of the bill.
The bill passed the NC House on Wednesday by a vote of 85 for and 27 against. Representative Brisson voted in favor of the bill. Records show a message was sent to the NC Senate on Wednesday morning regarding the passage of the bill.
The NC Senate is anticipated to take up the bill later this summer.
North Carolina is not the only state mulling making the time change permanent. The US Congress is also reviewing a bill to make Daylight Saving Time permanent. Florida Senator Marco Rubio has filed a bill in the US Congress that, if adopted, would make Daylight Saving Time permanent across the United States. According to Sen. Rubio’s website, if adopted, the bill would only apply to those states that are currently participating in Daylight Saving Time.
Some benefits for remaining on Daylight Saving Time year round include a reduction in automobile crashes and workplace accidents. Studies have shown that with the time changes in the fall and spring, there is an increase in such accidents.
Sen. Rubio also states that moving to Daylight Saving Time permanently will help agricultural interests.
About Author
