04/29/2025 03:30 PM Senate STATE AFFAIRS

             SB 102-ELIMINATE DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
3:37:50 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  KAWASAKI announced  the consideration  of SENATE  BILL NO.                                                               
102 "An  Act exempting the  state from daylight saving  time; and                                                               
providing for an effective date."                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
3:38:11 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR KAWASAKI opened  public testimony on SB  102; finding none,                                                               
he closed public testimony.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
3:38:39 PM                                                                                                                    
JOE   HAYES,  Staff,   Senator  Scott   Kawasaki,  Alaska   State                                                               
Legislature, Juneau,  Alaska, presented a  brief recap of  SB 102                                                               
on behalf of  the sponsor. He said the bill  would keep Alaska on                                                               
standard time  year-round, like Hawaii  and Arizona. He  said the                                                               
sponsor believes SB 102 is a good move for Alaska.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
3:39:23 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR BJORKMAN  stated that he opposes  ending Daylight Savings                                                               
Time, arguing  it provides valuable evening  daylight for outdoor                                                               
activities, sports, and cultural  events. He stressed that losing                                                               
an hour of  light after school or work  would significantly limit                                                               
opportunities, especially in  spring and fall. He  also warned of                                                               
unintended  consequences,  such  as  financial  staff  in  Alaska                                                               
having  to  start  work  even  earlier to  align  with  New  York                                                               
markets. For these  reasons. He said for these  reasons he cannot                                                               
support eliminating Daylight Savings Time.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
3:42:48 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON stated that she  supports SB 102 because her                                                               
constituents support the bill.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
3:43:35 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR KAWASAKI solicited the will of the committee.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
3:43:39 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  GRAY-JACKSON moved  to  report SB  102,  work order  34-                                                               
LS0625\A,  from  committee  with individual  recommendations  and                                                               
attached fiscal note(s).                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
3:43:58 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR KAWASAKI  found no objection  and SB 102 was  reported from                                                               
the Senate State Affairs Standing Committee.