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House committee adopts substitute to stop clock, narrows federal petition timeline and carves out Western Alaska
Summary
The House State Affairs Committee adopted a committee substitute for SB 26 that would end seasonal clock changes and set Alaska to standard time on March 11, 2028, while carving out Western Alaska and narrowing the USDOT petition window so the petition would be repealed if not approved by Jan. 1, 2028.
The House State Affairs Committee on May 5 adopted a committee substitute to Senate Bill 26 that would stop seasonal clock changes and move Alaska to standard time on March 11, 2028, while creating a path for a federal petition that could put most of the state on Pacific Standard Time.
Stewart Relay, staff for Chair Kerrick, told the committee the substitute makes two major changes: it “essentially, quote unquote, carves out Western Alaska” and shortens the USDOT approval timeline so the petition would be repealed if not approved by Jan. 1, 2028. "In this version of the bill, the petition would be repealed in, 01/01/2028," Relay said.
Sen. Kelly Merrick, sponsor of the underlying Senate bill, said the carve-out responds to concerns that Western Alaska would be "negatively affected by being on Pacific Standard Time." Merrick added the change was suggested by proponents after earlier testimony and stakeholder engagement.
Rep. Holland, who worked with the substitute language, framed the CS as a compromise that accomplishes two things: it stops the clock so Alaskans move to standard time without federal action, while also preserving the option for a DOT petition to seek Pacific Standard Time. "On March we are in Standard Time, but there's this intermediate stop in there," Holland said, describing the CS as responsive both to people who want to stop the clock and to those who want a DOT petition.
Committee members asked how USDOT would evaluate any petition; Carrie Crocker, staff to Sen. Merrick, said USDOT has indicated it would hold public hearings and evaluate the petition on the "convenience of commerce." Crocker said proponents had spoken with stakeholders and expected further vetting in House Finance if the bill moved. Representative Vance asked about logistics and workforce impacts of multiple time zones; sponsors said those effects would be considered as the bill advanced.
Chair Kerrick set a tight amendment deadline for the committee’s next hearing: Wednesday, May 6 at 5 p.m., and indicated SB 26 would be first on the committee’s Thursday agenda.
The committee adopted the substitute as its working document by voice action and will take further action on Thursday, May 7.
