Ohio – State Senators Bob Peterson and Kristina Roegner testified today on Senate Bill 119, which would exempt Ohio from the federal requirement to change between Standard Time and Daylight Savings Time.
If passed, Ohio would remain in Daylight Savings Time all year around. Traditionally, Daylight Savings Time is only observed from the second Sunday of March until the first Sunday of November each year.
“This is an important discussion to have given how modern technology has changed the way we live our lives today, as well as the fact nobody enjoys the “spring forward” and losing an hour of sleep,” said Peterson.
Daylight Savings Time was first used in the United States during WWl. During that time, extending working hours would use less artificial light and save fuel for the war. Jumping ahead to current time, some studies have found that time change actually increases energy use.
“Ohio’s ‘Sunshine Protection Act,’ would provide daylight later in the day all year long and eliminate the generally loathed switching of the clocks twice a year,” stated Roegner, joint-sponsor of the legislation. “As I heard once, clocks are meant to go around and around—not jump back and forth.”
Several bulletins were cited by Peterson during his testimony, one of his safety concerns and consideration for the current time change included endangering the lives of drivers and passengers due to sleep deprivation.
If passed by the House and signed by Governor DeWine, the bill would go into effect on March 8, 2020.
For more information, please contact Senator Peterson’s office at (614) 466-8156 or [email protected].
