Senate Votes To Keep Washington On Daylight Saving Year Round

Washington is one step closer to implementing year-round daylight saving time.  The state Senate voted in favor of House Bill 1196 Tuesday evening, 46-2.  The legislation now returns to the House for final approval before heading to Governor Jay Inslee for his signature.

“The people of Washington have said they want to #DitchTheSwitch, and passing this bill sends that message loud and clear to the other Washington,” said Representative Marcus Riccelli, of Spokane, who sponsored the bill.

The idea for the bill came to Riccelli originally from a health care angle. A health impact review from the Washington State Department of Health discusses the effects of changing clocks twice a year on the body’s circadian rhythms. The switch is associated with a spike in heart attacks, strokes, and even traffic collisions each year.

Washington is already on daylight saving time eight months out of the year.

There’s also the issue of youth outdoor activities getting cut short when the switch back to standard time occurs. Riccelli says extended daylight allows kids to play recreational or school sports outdoors into the evening.

The state won’t automatically switch to year-round daylight saving time.  The federal government has the final say.  California and Oregon lawmakers are also considering similar bills.

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