Daylight saving time is almost here. On Mar. 10 clocks spring forward one hour forward at 2 a.m.
Why do we do it?
DST was first implemented in the US with the Standard Time Act of 1918, a wartime measure for seven months during World War I in the interest of adding more daylight hours to conserve energy resources. Year-round DST, or "War Time", was implemented again during World War II.
After the war, local jurisdictions could choose if and when to observe DST until the Uniform Time Act which standardized DST in 1966. Permanent daylight saving time was enacted for the winter of 1974, but there were complaints of children going to school in the dark and working people commuting and starting their work day in pitch darkness during the winter, and it was repealed a year later.
Why stop?
Studies found the clock change can negatively impact people, and one lawmaker wants Oklahoma to "lock the clock."
State Sen. Blake “Cowboy” Stephens of Tahlequah told 2 News he wants to make DST, the time used between March and November, permanent. He's introduced this bill before, but said it might have a chance this time around with Senate Bill 1200.
"This is a passion bill of mine," he said, "one of the first bills I started working on after I got elected four years ago. And I haven't taken my foot off the gas because it just makes a lot of sense for the State of Oklahoma."
Stephens said the Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives, Charles McCall, one of SB1200's co-authors, is running this legislation on the House side as well. That is coupled with support from over 30 state senators and state representatives, according to Stephens.
19 other states passed similar laws. The only states that don't change the clock are Hawaii and Arizona, who observe permanent standard time.
Stephens argues permanent DST would save money, make workers and students more productive, and better health and lifestyle.
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Mia Hilton, a sleep technician at Ascension St. John Medical Center, told 2 News the clock change worsens learning, memory, heart health, weight, and alertness.
“The spring forward is the one that probably causes the biggest issues with the sleepiness," she explained.
“So, it causes issues with them to be able to get up on time and be and sleepy at work and then trying to adjust their bedtimes as well. Some people can do that; some people can't.”
She agrees that the extra hour of sunlight in the evening is beneficial, saying, “it does help keep people more in shape, typically and more active.”
READ MORE: 10 ways to make daylight saving time easier on your body
Stephens said he keeps pushing this bill because of those health reasons. Furthermore, he argued it would lower crime rates, improve productivity, and prevent the economic dip that tends to happen after springing forward.
“If I didn't think this was good for all of Oklahoma" and for his family and friends, he said, "there's no way that I would be running this legislation. The short answer is, I will never quit.”
Why not stop?
Proposals like this have critics.
They say permanent DST, some times of the year, would make it too dark in the morning, when kids head to school. Darker mornings, some argue, would also mean more car crashes that time of day. Plus, some critics also argue standard time should become permanent, instead of DST, for a number of reasons.
There’s a caveat to this bill and those in other states: Congress needs to pass a federal law, like the Sunshine Protection Act, which has been held up for years. Congressional approval could trigger state laws passed but not enacted.
U.S. Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.) co-authored the Sunshine Protection act. On Thursday, he wrote: "It’s almost that dreaded time of year when we lose an hour of sleep for an antiquated bi-annual ritual of Daylight Saving time. It’s time for it to stop. We need to #LocktheClock"
Responding to 2 News' request for comment, U.S. Sen. Markwayne Mullin's (R-Okla.) communication director said, "He supports locking in one time for the whole year."
2 News has reached out Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt's (R) office.
Stephens said he feels the "magic number" of states to sway Congress is 26, a majority of them.
As of this week, Stephens said his bill qualified for an Oklahoma Senate floor hearing. Once the hearing is granted, state senators will discuss it, possibly leading to a floor vote. After that, the bill heads to the House, and then possibly the governor's desk.
Until all that happens, expect to change the clocks on Sunday, Mar. 10, and for a while longer.
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