Committee advances trigger bill to adopt permanent daylight saving time if federal and neighboring-state conditions met

A bill that would convert North Dakota to permanent daylight saving time if Congress authorizes it and neighboring states adopt the change cleared the State and Local Government Committee with unanimous votes on both an amendment and on the committee recommendation.

The proposal — described by sponsors as a “trigger” law — would make the switch only after Congress permits permanent daylight saving time and after Minnesota, Montana and South Dakota have also moved to permanent daylight saving time. Senator Wallen described the measure as an attempt to avoid repeated annual hearings on the topic while protecting border-city interests.

Senators discussed whether the law should require two of the three neighboring states to move first rather than all three; one senator raised concern about Minnesota not moving and the impact on border cities.

The committee adopted amendment 02/2001 and then took a committee vote to recommend the bill. The clerk recorded a 6-0 roll call on both the amendment and the due-pass recommendation: Chair Rohrs — aye; Vice Chair Castaneda — aye; Senator Barta — aye; Senator Brownberger — aye; Senator Lee — aye; Senator Wallen — aye.

Supporters said the bill would avoid having the committee rehearse daylight-saving questions every year if federal law changed; opponents and edge-case concerns focused on border-city coordination with adjacent states. With the committee recommendation, the bill will proceed to the next legislative step.