Paul Hammel
LINCOLN — For a second time, state lawmakers debated Tuesday whether Nebraska needs to pursue adopting permanent daylight saving time or join two states that have year-round standard time.
The debate pits golfers and broadcasters, who support the added evening sunshine of DST, against health experts who argue that our biological clocks and sleep patterns work best on standard time.
Under Legislative Bill 143, Nebraska would forego the annual “fall-back and spring-forward” changes to daylight saving time and adopt it year round — but only if three bordering states also make the change and the U.S. Congress approves.
State Sen. Steve Erdman of Bayard has introduced an amendment requiring the state to adopt year-round standard time, like Arizona and Hawaii.
He cited research from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine indicating that the “abrupt” switching of clocks every spring and fall causes an increase in heart attacks, mood disorders and auto crashes.
But permanent daylight saving time is the worst option, healthwise, Erdman said, and health concerns trump added sunshine for recreation.
“Our biological clocks work best on standard time … because that’s what God created,” he said.
Lincoln Sen. Danielle Conrad assumed sponsorship of LB 143 after its previous sponsor, Sen. Tom Briese, resigned to become state treasurer. Her primary goal is to end the annual clock changes in spring and fall.
She added, however, that the golf industry and state broadcasters are concerned about switching to permanent standard time and making Nebraska “an outlier” with other states.
Nineteen states, including neighboring Colorado and Wyoming, have adopted proposals to switch to permanent daylight saving time, pending congressional approval.
Switching to permanent standard time, Erdman pointed out, does not require an OK from Congress, and such congressional approval for permanent daylight time is iffy.
Legislators adjourned debate for the day Tuesday before getting to a vote on Erdman’s amendment or LB 143. Debate could resume as early as Wednesday