Clock wars: State Senate passes bill to adopt permanent Daylight Saving Time

While a lot of people like the "fall back" clock switch, practically nobody appreciates "spring forward". There's a push in the state legislature, and across the country, to pick one and stick with it. So... Standard Time, or Daylight Saving Time? You have both camps in the Oklahoma Legislature. Earlier this week I ran a column from one House member who wants to switch to permanent Standard Time. The State Senate, however, once again has voted to adopt permanent Daylight Saving Time. Confused? Yeah. We all are.

Senate approves bill to adopt permanent Daylight Saving Time

OKLAHOMA CITY (March 12th) – Senate Bill 1200 received approval from the full Senate Monday and provides that Oklahoma remain on Daylight Saving Time year-round should Congress pass legislation allowing states to choose whether or not to take part in the bi-annual time change. The bill’s author, Sen. Blake “Cowboy” Stephens, R-Tahlequah, has long advocated for locking the clock, citing the health and safety benefits of having an extra hour of light in the evenings.

“Following the time change over the weekend, countless Oklahomans are feeling the effects on their sleep, effectiveness at work, mental health, and in various other aspects of their life,” Stephens said. “I am appreciative of my colleagues who voted in favor of this measure, and echoed the voices of our state’s citizens who advocate for locking our state’s clock in DST, and doing away with the antiquated practice of resetting our clocks twice a year.”

SB 1200 now heads to the House of Representatives for further consideration. Speaker Charles McCall, R-Atoka, serves as the House principal author of the measure.