DES MOINES, Iowa – There will be no more springing forward or falling back for Iowans if the Iowa Legislature passes, and Governor Kim Reynolds signs, a bill under consideration in the Iowa Senate.
The Iowa Senate State Government Committee passed a bill, SF 2077, that would make Daylight Savings Time permanent in the state by an 11 to 4 vote on Monday afternoon.
In 1966, Congress passed the Uniform Time Act that allowed states to alternate between daylight savings time and standard time. In 1973, the United States observed daylight savings time all year. In 1986, the standardization of making the switch at 2:00a began on the first Sunday in April and the last Sunday in October. In 2007, Daylight Savings Time was extended starting in the second Sunday in March and ending the first Sunday in November.
The Iowa Legislature has entertained bills in the past abolishing Daylight Savings Time. The common complaint being it’s no longer needed. A poll conducted last fall showed seven out of ten Americans were tired of the change. Four out of ten Americans want to abolish Daylight Savings Time, and three out of ten Americans want to make it permanent.
The bill sponsor, State Senator Brad Zaun, R-Urbandale, wants Iowans to enjoy the sunshine later in the day.
“I thought the idea has some merit; I’ve had many people tell me they do not like switching. It is my belief that people are happier when it is daylight. I recall when many years ago, when the President (Nixon) did an executive order for all year round daylight savings to conserve energy and also watched my sales at my old hardware store increase after the switch to daylight savings. People just do more activities if it is still light out,” he told Caffeinated Thoughts.
Having passed in committee, SF 2077 survives the Iowa Legislature’s first funnel week. Policy bills have to move out of committee in the chamber they originated in by the end of the week for further consideration during this legislative session.
