03/25/2025 01:30 PM Senate COMMUNITY & REGIONAL AFFAIRS

              SB  26-ELIMINATE DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME                                                                         
              SB 102-ELIMINATE DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
1:31:44 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."                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
and                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
SENATE BILL NO. 102                                                                                                             
"An  Act  exempting the  state  from  daylight saving  time;  and                                                               
providing for an effective date."                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR MERRICK said  the intention is to open  public testimony on                                                               
SB 26  and SB 102  and to look  to the  will of the  committee on                                                               
both bills.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
1:32:33 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR MERRICK  invited Mr. Crocker  to offer opening  comments on                                                               
SB 26.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
1:32:44 PM                                                                                                                    
KERRY  CROCKER,  Staff,  Senator   Kelly  Merrick,  Alaska  State                                                               
Legislature, Juneau,  Alaska, presented a  brief recap on  SB 26.                                                               
He  said  SB  26 simplifies  Alaska  timekeeping  by  eliminating                                                               
daylight  saving time  and realigning  the state's  time zone  to                                                               
better meet economic  and logistical needs. The bill  has two key                                                               
provisions:                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
- End daylight saving time in  Alaska to align the state with the                                                               
   Pacific Standard Time zone.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
- Petition the U.S. Department  of Transportation (USDOT) to move                                                               
   Alaska into the Pacific Standard Time zone. He noted that                                                                    
   USDOT has approved time zone changes eight times across five                                                                 
   states in the last 20 years.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
MR. CROCKER  said these  adjustments are  possible, and  there is                                                               
precedent for them.  SB 26 would establish a  more practical time                                                               
system for Alaska, benefiting residences and businesses.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
1:33:52 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  MERRICK invited  Mr.  Hayes to  give  opening comments  on                                                               
SB 102.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
1:34:02 PM                                                                                                                    
JOE   HAYES,  Staff,   Senator  Scott   Kawasaki,  Alaska   State                                                               
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska,  presented a brief recap  on SB 102.                                                               
He said SB 102 proposes to  exempt the state from daylight saving                                                               
time. Alaska has observed daylight  saving since 1966, but SB 102                                                               
proposes that  the state remain  on standard time  year-round. He                                                               
said  this  time change  will  benefit  the mental  and  physical                                                               
health  of Alaskans,  Alaska's economy,  and would  eliminate the                                                               
need to  change clock  times twice each  year. Alaska  could make                                                               
this change for itself and would not require a federal petition.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
1:34:55 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR MERRICK opened public testimony on SB 26 and SB 102.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
1:35:20 PM                                                                                                                    
LYNN WILLIS,  representing self,  Eagle River,  Alaska, testified                                                               
on SB  26 and SB  102. He stated  that if the  legislature passes                                                               
SB 102, Alaska  would be  finished with  daylight saving  time by                                                               
November 4, 2025. However, if SB  26 passes, it could persist for                                                               
another decade.  He emphasized that daylight  saving time affects                                                               
700,000  Alaskans  twice  a  year, forcing  them  to  adjust  for                                                               
convenience  rather than  necessity. He  cited art.  I, sec.  22,                                                               
Constitution  of  the State  of  Alaska,  the right  to  privacy,                                                               
emphasizing that the  State should not be in his  bedroom twice a                                                               
year at two  in the morning, telling him to  change his clock. He                                                               
urged an  advisory vote  on the next  general election  ballot if                                                               
the legislature  proceeds with SB  26, to let Alaskans  decide on                                                               
the issue due to its potential 10-year timeframe.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
1:37:54 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR MERRICK closed public testimony on SB 26 and SB 111.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
1:38:00 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  MERRICK solicited  the  will of  the  committee on  moving                                                               
[SB 26] from committee.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
1:38:06 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR DUNBAR  moved to  report SB  26, work  order 34-LS0267\A,                                                               
from committee with individual  recommendations and attached zero                                                               
fiscal note, and authorization for  Legislative Legal Services to                                                               
make conforming changes.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
1:38:21 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR MERRICK found no objection and  SB 26 was reported from the                                                               
Senate Community and Regional Affairs Standing Committee.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
1:38:24 PM                                                                                                                    
At ease.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
1:40:22 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR MERRICK reconvened  the meeting at 1:40  p.m. and solicited                                                               
the will of the committee on moving [SB 102] from committee.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
1:40:28 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR DUNBAR  moved to report  SB 102, work  order 34-LS0625\A,                                                               
from committee with individual  recommendations and attached zero                                                               
fiscal note, and authorization for  Legislative Legal Services to                                                               
make conforming changes.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
1:40:43 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR MERRICK  found no  objection and SB  102 was  reported from                                                               
the Senate Community and Regional Affairs Standing Committee.