Senator proposes ballot question to end clock changes, says federal law limits state options

Senator Albert introduced Senate Bill 126, a proposal to eliminate daylight saving time in Michigan, and urged that voters be given the choice on the issue. Albert said the state’s authority is constrained by federal law but that voters deserve a chance to decide whether to keep the twice-yearly clock change.

“My grandmother had an expression. She would say, never wake a sleeping baby,” Albert said while arguing that the time change is “inconvenient” and “not healthy.” He described federal limits on state action: “Federal law gives us 2 options. We can either stay on daylight savings time and flip the clock back and forth twice a year or we can opt out and stay on standard time.” Albert said prior statewide measures and experiments have produced mixed results and that voters should decide whether Michigan continues the practice.

Senate Bill 126 was offered earlier during introduction and referral procedures and was referred to the Committee on Government Operations for further consideration. Albert said the bill would place the question of retaining or ending the clock change on the ballot so Michiganders can choose which time standard they prefer.

Albert cited historical attempts to change the state’s time policy, noting a 1974 federal experiment in permanent daylight time that saw rising public opposition and repeal within months. He said voters have decided this question twice in past decades and that the current proposal is another opportunity to resolve the matter democratically. The senator requested that his floor remarks be printed in the journal.