This bill was not considered by the legislature.
Libertas Institute supports this bill.
Government mandates attempt to regulate every part of daily life, from the food you eat to the doctor you see. With Daylight Saving Time it attempts to regulate the very time of day in an effort to control behavior. Unfortunately, like most government mandates, unintended consequences often overshadow the stated benefits.
Under federal law, states may opt-out of observing Daylight Saving Time through a state law. House Bill 65, sponsored by Representative Fred Cox, exempts Utah from participating in the time management scheme.
Studies show there are large economic costs associated with changing time, including increases in energy consumption and pollution. There are increases in traffic accidents, children have to abruptly go to school in the dark during Spring, and parents report significant problems with the sleep schedules for young children, among other issues. Adults can adjust their own schedules to capitalize on daylight as needed without disrupting the schedules of children. Daylight “saving” is an outmoded government mandate that has worn out its usefulness—Utah would be better off without it.
This bill will allow Utah to stay on standard time year around, placing us on the same schedule as Arizona. This would eliminate the need to “spring forward” or “fall back.”
