03/18/2025 01:30 PM Senate COMMUNITY & REGIONAL AFFAIRS
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB26 | |
| SB102 | |
| Adjourn |
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | SB 102 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 26 | TELECONFERENCED | |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE COMMUNITY AND REGIONAL AFFAIRS STANDING COMMITTEE
March 18, 2025
1:35 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Kelly Merrick, Chair
Senator Forrest Dunbar, Vice Chair
Senator Elvi Gray-Jackson
Senator Robert Yundt
MEMBERS ABSENT
Senator Donald Olson
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
SENATE BILL NO. 26
"An Act petitioning the United States Department of
Transportation to change the time zones of Alaska; exempting the
state from daylight saving time; and providing for an effective
date."
- HEARD & HELD
SENATE BILL NO. 102
"An Act exempting the state from daylight saving time; and
providing for an effective date."
- HEARD & HELD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: SB 26
SHORT TITLE: ELIMINATE DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME
SPONSOR(s): MERRICK
01/10/25 (S) PREFILE RELEASED 1/10/25
01/22/25 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/22/25 (S) CRA, STA
03/11/25 (S) CRA AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
03/11/25 (S) <Bill Hearing Canceled>
03/18/25 (S) CRA AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
BILL: SB 102
SHORT TITLE: ELIMINATE DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME
SPONSOR(s): STATE AFFAIRS
02/19/25 (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
02/19/25 (S) CRA, STA
03/11/25 (S) CRA AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
03/11/25 (S) Heard & Held
03/11/25 (S) MINUTE(CRA)
03/18/25 (S) CRA AT 1:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
WITNESS REGISTER
KERRY CROCKER, Staff
Senator Kelly Merrick
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Introduced SB 26 and presented the sectional
analysis on behalf of the sponsor.
JOE HAYES, Staff
Senator Scott Kawasaki
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented survey results on SB 102.
SENATOR SCOTT KAWASAKI, District P
Alaska State Legislature
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Thanked committee members for hearing SB 102
again.
JAY PEA, President
Save Standard Time
Phoenix, Arizona
POSITION STATEMENT: Gave invited testimony in support of SB 102.
ACTION NARRATIVE
1:35:27 PM
CHAIR MERRICK called the Senate Community and Regional Affairs
Standing Committee meeting to order at 1:35 p.m. Present at the
call to order were Senators Dunbar, Yundt, Gray-Jackson, and
Chair Merrick.
SB 26-ELIMINATE DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME
1:35:59 PM
CHAIR MERRICK announced the consideration of SENATE BILL NO. 26
"An Act petitioning the United States Department of
Transportation to change the time zones of Alaska; exempting the
state from daylight saving time; and providing for an effective
date."
CHAIR MERRICK said that her constituents are staunch opponents
of time change. She mentioned that SB 26 models a bill proposed
by former Senator Anna MacKinnon, whose daylight-saving time
bill advanced further than others.
1:36:33 PM
KERRY CROCKER, Staff, Senator Kelly Merrick, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, introduced SB 26 and presented the
sectional analysis on behalf of the sponsor.
MR. CROCKER stated that Alaskans have voiced concerns about
daylight saving time (DST) and the state's time zone for 25
years. The Alaska State Legislature has introduced thirteen
bills on the subject. He explained that SB 26 proposes to
address these issues through two key provisions:
- No More Clock Flip Flop
Section 1 would permanently eliminate DST, meaning Alaskans
would no longer "spring forward or "fall back. The state
would stay on one time all year. It would keep mornings
brighter in the winter and eliminate biannual clock change
confusion. He drew attention to the first sections of SB 26 and
SB 102, noting that they are identical.
- A Time Zone Tune-Up
Section 2 would petition the U.S. Department of Transportation
to place all of the state within the Pacific Standard Time
(PST) zone. He explained that all of Alaska is currently in the
Alaska Time Zone. SB 26 proposes to change this, it would sync
Alaska with the West Coast, making managing business, travel,
and TV schedules easier.
MR. CROCKER said that the proposed exemption from daylight
saving time, in Section 1, would take effect only if the federal
government approves the change to PST by January 1, 2035. If the
request is denied, Alaska's time zone would remain unchanged.
The official petition in Section 2, would be submitted
immediately.
MR. CROCKER said the bottom line is that SB 26 aims to simplify
Alaska's timekeeping, eliminate annoying clock changes, and make
life easier for Alaskans.
1:38:22 PM
MR. CROCKER presented the sectional analysis for SB 26:
[Original punctuation provided.]
Section 1. Amends AS 44.12 - Exemption from Daylight
Saving Time (AS 44.12.400)
• Exempts the state of Alaska from the observation
of daylight-saving time (DST).
Section 2. Amends the Uncodified Law of the State of
Alaska - Petition to the US Department of
Transportation to Change Alaska's Time Zone
• Directs the Alaska State Legislature to formally
petition the United States Department of
Transportation (USDOT) to move the entire state
to the Pacific Standard Time (PST) zone.
• Requests the USDOT to initiate proceedings under
the Uniform Time Act of 1966.
Section 3. Conditional Effect of Section 1
• States that Section 1 (the exemption from DST)
will only take effect if the USDOT places the
entire state of Alaska within the Pacific
Standard Time zone on or before January 1, 2035.
Section 4. Immediate Effect of Section 2
• Provides that Section 2, which initiates the
petition to the USDOT, takes effect immediately
upon the passage of the Act.
Section 5. Effective Date of Section 1
• Specifies that if Section 1 (the exemption from
DST) takes effect, it will do so on the effective
date of the placement of all of Alaska into the
Pacific Standard Time zone by the USDOT.
1:39:45 PM
CHAIR MERRICK asked why the passage of Section 1 alone would
create problems for commerce in Alaska.
MR. CROCKER replied that industries such as tourism, banking,
and travel face challenges when operating in a time zone further
removed from New York and the West Coast. He said that SB 26
aims to address this issue.
CHAIR MERRICK found no further questions.
[SB 26 was held in committee.]
1:40:34 PM
At ease.
SB 102-ELIMINATE DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME
1:41:42 PM
CHAIR MERRICK reconvened the meeting and announced the
consideration of SENATE BILL NO. 102 "An Act exempting the state
from daylight saving time; and providing for an effective date."
CHAIR MERRICK invited Senator Kawasaki and his staff to briefly
reintroduce SB 102, sponsored by the Senate State Affairs
Committee.
1:42:09 PM
JOE HAYES, Staff, Senator Scott Kawasaki, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, presented survey results on SB 102.
SENATOR SCOTT KAWASAKI, District P, Alaska State Legislature,
Juneau, Alaska, thanked committee members for hearing SB 102
again.
1:42:30 PM
MR. HAYES distributed a handout of survey results related to
SB 102 and discussed its findings. The handout is posted on The
Alaska State Legislature website. He informed the committee that
the survey had been live for only one week and was still
accepting responses.
MR. HAYES expressed his relatively strong feeling that the
citizens of Alaska support eliminating daylight saving time.
1:43:33 PM
CHAIR MERRICK announced invited testimony on SB 102.
1:43:47 PM
JAY PEA, President, Save Standard Time, Phoenix, Arizona, gave
invited testimony in support of SB 102. He said that he is also
the co-chair for the Coalition for Permanent Standard Time, a
collaboration with eight nonprofit health and safety
organizations. He advised voting "no" on SB 26 and "yes" on
SB 102. He said that he wants to "ditch the switch" and "lock
the clock" as most voters wish to do. He recommended doing this
in the quickest way possible, the federally approved way,
permanent standard time. This is the safest, healthiest, and
most lasting way per the lessons of history and science.
MR. PEA said that daylight saving time is simply a mandate to
wake early and to sleep less. When the clock is turned ahead one
hour, the alarm clock sounds one hour earlier the next day and
everyday thereafter until the clock is set back to standard
time. He said that daylight saving time was originally intended
only for the summer; it was never intended for winter. It does
not go well in the winter. Daylight saving time deprives
individuals an average of 19 minutes of sleep every night. This
leads to more illnesses and more fatal accidents, which
increases health care costs and cost lives.
1:45:19 PM
MR. PEA said that permanent daylight saving time would delay
sunrise in Anchorage past 9:00 a.m., resulting in four and half
months of morning darkness at 9:00 a.m. Sunrise after 10:00 a.m.
in Anchorage currently occurs for one month; this would become
three months with permanent daylight time. The latest sunrise
would change from 10:15 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. with permanent
daylight time. Sunrise is progressively later moving out to
Western Alaska where the sunrise would occur after noon with
permanent daylight time. He stated that this makes sunrise too
late.
MR. PEA emphasized that permanent Pacific Standard Time (PST) is
equivalent to permanent Alaska Daylight Time but noted that this
is federally prohibited. He explained that the U.S. Department
of Transportation has never allowed an entire state to change
times zones as proposed in SB 26. In short, summers will always
have longer daylight and winters will always have shorter
daylight.
MR. PEA said that permanent standard time is the natural clock,
aligning with the sun at 12:00 p.m., high noon, and providing a
balance of morning and evening light. He emphasized that morning
light is important for school children, commuters, outdoor
laborers, and service personnel. Morning light supports sleep,
mood, health, safety, education, and productivity. He stated
that this is the view of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine,
the American Academy of Neurology, the National Safety Council,
and the Bloomberg Editorial Board across all latitudes and
longitudes.
MR. PEA said that Arizona and Hawaii have had permanent standard
time for decades and have functioned well. He said that most
nations also follow permanent standard time. He said more states
are considering permanent standard time, including California,
Texas, and New York. He said that a Gallup Poll found nearly
half of Americans want a standard time and only a quarter want
permanent daylight time. He reiterated that permanent standard
time is federally approved. He urged the passage of SB 102 to
end the clock change. He asked the committee to vote "no" on SB
26 and "yes" on SB 102.
1:47:33 PM
CHAIR MERRICK found no further discussion on SB 102.
[SB 102 was held in committee.]
1:48:08 PM
There being no further business to come before the committee,
Chair Merrick adjourned the Senate Community and Regional
Affairs Standing Committee meeting at 1:48 p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| SB102 Public Testimony - AK Broadcasters opposition.pdf |
SCRA 3/18/2025 1:30:00 PM |
SB 102 |
| SB26 Public Testimony Packet 3.17.2025.pdf |
SCRA 3/18/2025 1:30:00 PM |
SB 26 |
| SB 26 Supporting Document - Alaska Time Zones History.pdf |
SCRA 3/18/2025 1:30:00 PM |
SB 26 |
| SB 26 Supporting Documents - US DOT Time Zone Move Procedure.pdf |
SCRA 3/18/2025 1:30:00 PM |
SB 26 |
| SB 26 Supporting Document - Daylight Gains by City.pdf |
SCRA 3/18/2025 1:30:00 PM |
SB 26 |
| SB 26 Sectional Analysis.pdf |
SCRA 3/18/2025 1:30:00 PM |
SB 26 |
| SB 26 Fiscal Note.pdf |
SCRA 3/18/2025 1:30:00 PM |
SB 26 |
| SB 26 Sponsor Statement.pdf |
SCRA 3/18/2025 1:30:00 PM |
SB 26 |
| SB 102 Public Testimony - Bankers Opposition.pdf |
SCRA 3/18/2025 1:30:00 PM |
SB 102 |
| SB102 Senate District P DST Survey Responses 3.18.2025.pdf |
SCRA 3/18/2025 1:30:00 PM |
SB 102 |