As daylight saving time looms next month, depriving most Americans of an hour of sleep, the ongoing debate over whether to eliminate the practice persists both nationally and in California.
California Assemblyman Tri Ta and Sen. Roger Niello, both Republicans, have put forth legislation to adopt standard time throughout the year.
“Changing clocks twice a year is not only frustrating, but it’s dangerous for drivers and contributes to our state’s mental and physical health crises every year,” Mr. Ta said in a statement announcing the bill last November.
According to the lawmaker, the change is long overdue, especially after voters passed Proposition 7 in 2018, granting the state Legislature the authority to adjust the dates and times of daylight saving with a two-thirds vote.
AB1776 and SB1413 are the second attempt after previous legislation died in committees.
Experts have suggested that time changes are linked to increased health risks, vehicle accidents, and mood disturbances.
“The scientific evidence points to acute increases in adverse health consequences from changing the clocks, including in heart attack and stroke,” said sleep expert Adam Spira, a professor at John Hopkins University.
Another doctor agreed.
“I applaud Assemblyman Tri Ta for introducing this legislation. Children and teenagers are especially impacted by the disruption caused by time changes,” said Dr. Andrew Binder, a member of the board of directors of the California Sleep Society. “Our natural sleep rhythms and internal clocks are best suited for year-round standard time, and after the passage of Proposition 7, now is the time for the Legislature to act.”
A 2020 study discovered that the time switch increased the rate of fatal car accidents by 6 percent.
If passed, the law would take effect in 2025.
Nationwide, dozens of states have also gone through attempts to either stay on daylight saving time permanently or abolish it altogether.
Over the last five years, 19 states have enacted legislation or resolutions endorsing year-round daylight saving time, as reported by the National Conference of State Legislatures.
Arizona and Hawaii are the only two U.S. states that do not observe daylight saving time.
