An NPR member station
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Daylight Saving Time Bill Advances in Washington House

Doug Nadvornick/SPR

A bill that would move Washington to full-time Daylight Saving Time is now headed to the state House floor. The legislation’s prime sponsor is Spokane Democratic Representative Marcus Riccelli.

Riccelli’s bill cleared the money committee in the House, the Appropriations Committee, late Thursday. It would move the state away from the “Spring Forward, Fall Back” regime that will take effect again just a week from now.

“I think that Daylight Saving Time permanently will reduce traffic collisions, heart attacks, strokes. It allows after-school sports and activities to go longer. There’s some great research from the University of Washington shows that it would reduce crime and increase commerce. So I think it’s the way to go," Riccelli said.

At a hearing on the bill last month, a representative from the state Board of Health testified there’s evidence that people’s health will improve.

Riccelli’s bill included a provision that would have put the measure up for a statewide referendum vote at the next general election after the change was made. That part of the bill was removed by the Appropriations Committee.

But Riccelli says the bill would only take effect if Congress approves a similar bill at the federal level.