Daylight Savings debate: two legislators with different solutions

Two state legislators are out with op-eds (below) decrying the continued shuffling of the clock every November and March. They've both authored legislation to "lock the clock" -- but one wants permanent Standard Time and the other wants permanent Daylight Savings Time.

Which would you opt for?

Read below for comments from State Rep. Kevin West (R-Moore) and State Sen. Blake Stephens (R-Tahlequah).

Rep. Kevin West: 'What a Waste of Time'

OKLAHOMA CITY (Oct. 31st) – Oklahomans will fall back an hour Sunday morning, and they're scheduled still to spring forward an hour March 9, 2025. This is because of the Legislature's refusal to adopt meaningful legislation on daylight saving time, according to Rep. Kevin West, R-Moore.

West has authored several bills that would send to a vote of the people a question on whether to adopt permanent standard time in Oklahoma, stopping the twice-yearly time change. The measures have not advanced through the legislative process.

Instead, last session, the Legislature passed and the governor signed into law Senate Bill 1200. The measure specifies that should a federal law ever authorize states to observe daylight saving time year-round, Oklahoma shall adopt it as the year-round standard of time.

"This is a terrible idea and a do-nothing law," West said. "We tried this in the past and had to petition the federal government to repeal it because of the problems caused by it remaining dark until after 8 a.m. in the winter."

West said in 1974 the entire nation was mandated to go to daylight saving time. In the winter of 1974, several states, including Oklahoma, petitioned the federal government to end it after complaints of children going to school in the dark and employees starting the work day before the sun rose. The act ultimately was repealed in 1975.

Federal law allows states to be on standard time year-round. Arizona, Hawaii and most U.S. territories currently do this. The law requires states that wish to adopt daylight saving time year-round to ask permission from the government to do so, but so far the federal government has not granted any of these requests.

West also pointed out that the Sunshine Protection Act in Congress would require states to be on daylight saving time year-round. The act would allow states to not participate only if they take legislative action to do so. The act has not passed.

States that choose not to opt out of daylight saving time are required to set their clocks forward an hour at 2 a.m. the second Sunday of March each year and back an hour at 2 a.m. the first Sunday of November.

"I've heard from numerous constituents, parents and business owners over the course of my legislative service that there is a strong desire to stop the changing of the clocks," West said. "The only way to accomplish that is to switch to permanent standard time. I've proposed several measures that would accomplish this, but we must have the legislative boldness to put this question before Oklahomans."

West has studied the issue in detail. In a previous legislative study, he invited experts to discuss the science of time change and the detriments of changing the clock twice yearly.

The U.S. Congress first implemented daylight saving time through the Standard Time Act in 1918 during World War I as a way to "add" more daylight hours to conserve energy. The act also established five time zones across the U.S. The Uniform Time Act in 1966 mandated the country use daylight saving time but allowed states to opt out and to stay on standard time year-round.

The thought behind daylight saving time is that by setting the clocks back an hour in November, more daylight time is gained in the early mornings. When an hour is added in March, more daylight is gained in the evenings.

West said there are additional concerns such as health-related risks, increased auto accidents and work-related injuries that rise when daylight comes after people start their day.

West said he's received an enormous amount of positive feedback from Oklahomans who support not having to change the clock twice yearly, specifically noting the time it takes to adjust to the change. West said he'll keep pushing for legislation to put the question before state voters.

Kevin West serves District 54 in the Oklahoma House of Representatives. His district includes parts of Cleveland and Oklahoma counties.

Sen. Stephens Calls for Federal Action on Permanent Daylight Saving Time

OKLAHOMA CITY (Oct. 31st) – Sen. Blake Cowboy Stephens, R-Tahlequah, called for Congressional action to allow states to adopt permanent Daylight Saving Time. Stephens served as the author of a trigger bill in the 2024 legislative session to adopt permanent DST in Oklahoma. The provisions of Senate Bill 1200 will take effect immediately following the passage of federal legislation allowing states to discontinue bi-annual time changes.

“This year, Oklahoma joined 19 other states who have passed legislation in support of permanent Daylight Saving Time. As other states continue to pursue legislative action to lock the clock, I am confident that we are building strength in numbers and that Congress will soon see how widespread the support for permanent DST is across the nation. I look forward to continuing discussions with Oklahoma’s federal delegation and other leaders in Washington to encourage them to support locking the clock and end the redundant and archaic practice of changing our clocks twice a year,” Stephens said.

Daylight Saving Time will end Sunday, November 3 and 48 states will roll their clocks back one hour.

“As Daylight Saving Time ends, I encourage Oklahomans to take note of the effects that the time change has on themselves and their families,” Stephens added. Losing an hour of daylight in the evenings can take a toll on both mental and physical health as the time change limits opportunities for outdoor exercise or leisure activities in the evenings. This is just one of many harmful effects of the bi-annual time change, as heart attacks, sleeping issues, depression, and other health problems are also known to increase following the switch.”

Stephens has been a proponent of locking the clock throughout his legislative tenure, which began in 2020.