Arkansas committee hears hours of testimony on bill to keep standard time year‑round; proposal fails in committee

Representative Steven Meeks, R‑District 42, told the House State Agencies & Governmental Affairs Committee that House Bill 1069, which would stop observing daylight saving time and keep Arkansas on standard time year‑round, would “affect the health and well‑being, both physically and mentally, of every citizen of the state.”

Meeks opened with a brief history of daylight saving time and argued that switching clocks harms sleep and public health. “The only option we have to lock the clock as it currently stand is to go to standard time year round,” Meeks said, urging members to prioritize what he described as health benefits for children and the broader population.

The bill’s supporters included Elspeth Fast, identified in the hearing as a behavioral sleep specialist and adjunct professor at the Alice Walton School of Medicine, who described published positions from medical organizations in support of permanent standard time. “This bill to eliminate daylight savings time in Arkansas and observe standard time year round is an investment in the long term health of Arkansans,” Fast testified, citing links between circadian disruption and cardiovascular, metabolic and mental‑health harms.

Opposition testimony focused on practical disruptions and costs. Neil Gladner, executive director of the Arkansas Broadcasters Association, said broadcasters and stations would face scheduling confusion and potential technical and programming costs if Arkansas remained on a different clock than surrounding states. Gladner told the committee that statewide broadcasting contributes significant employment and economic activity and asked members to consider that impact.

Committee members pressed Meeks on border effects, technology changes that update phones and devices, and whether a federal solution would be preferable. Meeks said a trigger amendment he offered would delay adopting year‑round standard time until a neighboring state adopted it as well, to limit cross‑border confusion. Meeks also described an amendment to the bill that would allow a “summer schedule” option if the federal government later adopted a year‑round daylight saving time.

After roughly an hour of debate, including statements from clinicians, teachers and parents cited by Meeks and Fast, Representative Meeks moved that HB1069 “do pass as amended.” Committee members voted by voice; the committee chair announced that the “noes” prevailed and that the bill had failed to advance out of committee. Earlier in the morning the panel adopted a preliminary amendment offered by Meeks to add cosponsors.

Why it matters: supporters framed HB1069 as a public‑health measure tied to sleep, teen education and suicide prevention; opponents emphasized cross‑border coordination, technical and broadcast industry costs, and the practicalities of implementation. The committee’s vote ended consideration of the bill in this committee.

Votes and formal actions: An amendment to add cosponsors was adopted by voice vote during the presentation. A final motion by Representative Steven Meeks to “do pass as amended” failed by voice vote; the chair announced that the bill did not pass the committee.

Next steps: The committee adjourned HB1069 without a favorable committee report; no federal action was recorded during the hearing and Meeks noted he would accept a trigger approach if the panel preferred to wait for neighboring states or Congress.