2024 Regular Session

BySenators Padden, Dhingra, Fortunato, Holy, Lovick, McCune, Nobles, Short, Torres, Trudeau, Van De Wege, J. Wilson, and L. Wilson

Prefiled 12/04/23.Read first time 01/08/24.Referred to Committee on State Government & Elections.

AN ACT Relating to exempting the state of Washington from daylight saving time by implementing year-round Pacific standard time; amending RCW 1.20.050; adding a new section to chapter 1.20 RCW; creating a new section; repealing RCW 1.20.051, 1.20.052, 1.20.055, and 35A.21.190; repealing 2019 c 297 §§ 4 and 5 (uncodified); and providing an effective date.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that the state of Washington would benefit from the consistency and predictability of observing Pacific standard time throughout the calendar year. Research has shown that changing to and from daylight saving time twice per year has negative impacts on public health, increases traffic accidents and crime, disrupts agriculture scheduling, and hinders economic growth. Scientific studies have connected a number of health consequences with the act of switching between standard time and daylight saving time, including greater risks of heart attacks, more frequent workplace injuries, and increased suicide rates in the days immediately after the switch. The legislature passed Substitute House Bill No. 1196 in 2019 authorizing the state to observe daylight saving time year-round if authorized by the United States congress. However, congress has not amended federal law to authorize states to observe daylight saving time year-round. Therefore, the legislature intends to exercise the rights granted under the uniform time act, 15 U.S.C. Sec. 260a(a), and exempt the state of Washington from daylight saving time and remain standard time year-round.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 1.20 RCW to read as follows:

The time of the state of Washington and all of its political subdivisions shall be Pacific standard time throughout the calendar year, as determined by reference to coordinated universal time.

Sec. 3. RCW 1.20.050 and 1953 c 2 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

No county, city, or other political subdivision of this state shall adopt any provision for the observance of daylight saving time, or any time other than standard, except pursuant to a gubernatorial proclamation declaring an emergency during a period of national war and authorizing such adoption((, or unless other than standard time is established on a national basis: PROVIDED, That this)). This section shall not apply to orders made by federal authorities in a local area entirely under federal control.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. The following acts or parts of acts are each repealed:

(1) RCW 1.20.051 (Daylight saving time) and 2018 c 22 s 2, 1963 c 14 s 1, & 1961 c 3 s 1;

(2) RCW 1.20.052 (Permanent daylight saving time—Intent) and 2019 c 297 s 1;

(3) RCW 1.20.055 (Pacific daylight time) and 2019 c 297 s 2;

(4) RCW 35A.21.190 (Daylight saving time) and 2019 c 297 s 3 & 1967 ex.s. c 119 s 35A.21.190;

(5) 2019 c 297 s 4 (uncodified); and

(6) 2019 c 297 s 5 (uncodified).

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. This act takes effect November 4, 2024.