Competing year-round time bills advance

Nebraskans would no longer reset their clocks twice a year under two proposals given first-round approval Feb. 20.

LB34, introduced by Sen. Megan Hunt of Omaha, would adopt permanent daylight saving time. The switch would take effect contingent on a change in federal law or policy allowing states to do so and would require adoption of the same policy by three adjacent states.

States currently are allowed under federal law to permanently adopt year-round standard time — as Arizona and Hawaii have done — but Congress would have to act to authorize states to change to year-round daylight saving time.

Conversely, LB302, sponsored by Glenvil Sen. Dave Murman, would eliminate observation of daylight saving time in Nebraska. Under the bill, the state would adopt the practice of permanent standard time upon adoption of the same policy by the neighboring states of Iowa, Kansas, South Dakota and Wyoming.

During back-to-back general file debate on the measures, both senators said changing clocks twice a year has negative impacts on health, sleep, workplace safety and productivity, and that there is wide support in Nebraska for ending the practice.

Hunt said her proposal would result in more daylight after work, offering Nebraskans more opportunities for shopping and recreation, and would help those who suffer from seasonal affective disorder.

She noted that several of President Trump’s top advisors have indicated support for a move to permanent daylight saving time. In addition, two border states — Colorado and Wyoming — have passed similar measures and bills are pending in two others, she said, which could force Nebraska to play catch-up if there is a change in federal policy.

“Over the past five years, 20 states have joined this movement and it’s a strong signal for Congress to act,” Hunt said.

North Platte Sen. Mike Jacobson supported Hunt’s proposal. It’s especially important for western Nebraska to be in sync with Colorado, he said, because so many people travel to work and school events on either side of the border between the two states.

Lawmakers voted 29-13 to advance LB34 to select file debate.

Murman said his LB302 should be the preferred method to end time changes in Nebraska because it could be adopted without having to wait for Congress to act. In addition, he said, Americans briefly experimented with a national move to year-round daylight saving time in 1974, but gave it up after eight months.

“When kids have to get up and go to school in the dark in the wintertime when it’s a lot colder and, of course, everybody has to go to work in the dark … people quickly lose interest in permanent daylight saving time,” Murman said.

Sen. Tanya Storer of Whitman supported LB302, saying it would more closely align with how the day is naturally structured for those in the agricultural industry and others who work outdoors.

Permanent daylight saving time under Hunt’s proposal would mean starting the day later for farmers, she said, who would have to wait to put up hay and also work later into the evenings. Storer added concern for students waiting in the dark for school buses in the winter.

“I appreciate … the desire that we would have more daylight after work hours to be able to enjoy outdoor activities, but I do feel very strongly that we have to prioritize the workday before we prioritize the play part of our day,” Storer said.

Sen. Kathleen Kauth of Omaha also supported LB302. She cited a number of studies and statements from medical societies, including the Nebraska Medical Association, indicating the health benefits of permanent standard time.

“This is not just about what’s convenient, or what allows more people to go golfing or what kind of economic benefits there are,” Kauth said. “This is also about our health benefits.”

While several lawmakers said they were open to both measures and favored keeping them alive for another round of debate, Bellevue Sen. Rick Holdcroft opposed both. He said his time in the Pacific in the U.S. Navy required changing clocks approximately every three days.

“I think we’re fine the way we are,” Holdcroft said. “We can change our clocks twice a year without too much trouble.”

Senators voted 28-9 to advance LB302 to select file.