A Republican legislator introduced a bill to the Michigan House of Representatives seeking to eliminate Michigan’s observance of Daylight Saving Time. The bill was approved last week by the House Commerce and Tourism Committee.
HB 4303 was sponsored by state Rep. Michele Hoitenga (R-102-Manton), who said that studies show that twice-yearly change impact student performance and that workers struggle to arrive at work on time after the yearly “spring forward.”
Daylight Saving Time, which included a “fall back” of an hour on November 3, is designed to take advantage of daylight changing with the seasons.
“Time change is a nuisance,” Hoitenga said in a statement. “Workers and students across our state have been hurt by it for decades. Not only is the practice antiquated, it’s also impractical and serves no real purpose. Michigan residents are ready to put an end to this frustrating daylight saving practice.”
The lawmaker’s bill would make Michigan stay in Daylight Saving Time all the time, rather than enact “spring forward,” when residents “lose” an hour of time overnight in spring.
The bill currently has no co-sponsors.
If the law passes, Michigan would join Arizona and Hawaii in not observing Daylight Saving Time. Other states that have introduced legislation to not observe the time change include Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, Utah and Vermont. Washington has also attempted to not observe Daylight Saving Time, but is currently waiting on approval from Congress.
Massachusetts is considering switching time zones altogether and joining Atlantic Standard Time, which is used in places like Nova Scotia and Puerto Rico.
“I’m simply advocating for the people who have expressed their hatred for changing the time back and forth,” Hoitenga said. “It’s time to rid the practice of acclimating ourselves to a time change twice a year.”
The bill now moves to the House Ways and Means Committee.
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Jordyn Pair is a reporter with Battleground State News and The Michigan Star. Follow her on Twitter at @JordynPair. Email her at [email protected].
Photo “Boji Tower” by Dj1997 CC3.0.
