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House rejects change to keep daylight saving time year-round; bill to lock clocks in standard time fails
Summary
Representative West Kevin's plan to lock Oklahoma on standard time failed in the House, 40-54, after proponents urged an end to clock changes and opponents warned it would shift evening daylight to mornings.
A proposal to eliminate twice-yearly clock changes and "lock" the state on standard time failed in the Oklahoma House on Tuesday, after members debated whether to prioritize morning daylight or more evening light.
Representative West Kevin, sponsor of House Bill 12-23, said his bill would end the practice of changing clocks twice a year and fix the state on standard time. "This bill would actually lock the clock," West Kevin told the chamber, arguing that standard time brings earlier morning daylight and that "my constituents have told me they want to lock the clock."
Opponents said voters had already signaled a preference for daylight-saving time in prior votes and that the change would mean darker late afternoons in winter. Representative Fettgatter, debating against the bill, said the House and Senate had earlier acted in favor of year-round daylight saving time and urged members to respect that decision.
The result
- Final passage, House Bill 12-23: failed, 40 yes, 54 no.
What it would have done
The bill would have repealed last year's effort to adopt year-round daylight saving time and instead made standard time permanent in Oklahoma. Supporters noted that the federal Uniform Time Act allows states to opt out of daylight saving time and adopt standard time.
Why it mattered
The debate centered on whether to prioritize morning light (standard time) or evening light (daylight saving time). Proponents argued that locking standard time gives predictability and earlier morning light, while opponents said constituents previously expressed a preference for more evening light and that the change would darken late-afternoon hours in winter.
Next steps
The measure failed in the House and will not advance unless resubmitted during a later session.
Ending
Lawmakers were divided along familiar lines over how to set the clock permanently: the bill's failure preserves the current practice of switching clocks twice a year.
