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Senate committee advances two bills to end daylight saving time in Alaska
Summary
The Senate Community and Regional Affairs Committee moved Senate Bill 26 and Senate Bill 102 out of committee by voice consent after a brief staff overview and one public comment; both bills would end daylight saving time in Alaska and seek a federal time‑zone change.
The Senate Community and Regional Affairs Committee voted by voice consent on March 25 to move two bills that would end daylight saving time in Alaska out of committee.
The bills — Senate Bill 26, sponsored by Senator Merrick, and Senate Bill 102, carried by the Senate State Affairs Committee — would end observation of daylight saving time and seek to align Alaska with Pacific Standard Time. Carrie Crocker, staff to Senator Merrick, summarized SB 26 as a measure to “simplify Alaska timekeeping by eliminating daylight savings time and realigning the state's time zone to better fit economic and logistical needs.”
The bills were discussed briefly at the start of the committee’s meeting. Joe Hayes, staff to the Senate State Affairs Committee, described SB 102 as a measure to move Alaska to permanent standard time and said supporters expect health and economic benefits from ending the twice‑annual clock change. A single member of the public, Lynn Willis of Eagle River, testified by phone in favor of ending clock changes; Willis urged the committee to also place an advisory vote on a future ballot if SB 26’s approach is chosen.
After public testimony closed, a committee member moved to report SB 26 from committee “with individual recommendations and accompanying 0 fiscal note” and to authorize legislative legal to make conforming changes; there was no objection and the chair announced SB 26 “moves from committee.” The committee then took a short recess and returned to move SB 102 from committee under the same terms; again the chair recorded no objection.
No roll‑call votes were recorded; the motion to move each bill passed by voice consent. Committee members present at the start of the meeting were Senator Merrick (chair), Senator Dunbar, Senator Grama Jackson and Senator Yent.
The measures would still require further floor action and, for any federal time‑zone change, action by the U.S. Department of Transportation. Committee staff noted DOT has approved time‑zone changes for other states in recent years. The committee did not take final action on either bill beyond reporting them from committee for further consideration.
