DST bill passes Senate (Seattle: house, school, moving to)

[rjshae]

Remember that bill the state signed back in 2019 to make Daylight Savings Time permanent? Well it looks like Congress is finally acting to make it possible.

The Senate approves a bill to make daylight saving time permanent

The Senate passed a bill Tuesday that would make daylight saving time permanent across the U.S. beginning in 2023. The so-called Sunshine Protection Act of 2021 was approved by unanimous consent, but would still require House approval and President Biden's signature to become law.

For those wishing for an end to annual clock shifting, this most recent push in Congress is perhaps better late than never.

The bill was co-sponsored by Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Patty Murray (D-WA); their third attempt.

Washington’s wait for permanent Daylight Saving Time could be nearing end after Senate vote

Hurrah!

[primaltech]

Permanent standard time would probably be better, but that works too. Hope it passes the House.

[uniquetraveler]

For people like me who moved here from out of state, the hardest part of adjusting to Seattle is the winter months (November- February)- with rain, gloom, and short days. Moving to permanent DST will shift sunset to 5:30 pm from 4:30 pm, the extra hour of daylight will be very helpful. Early morning folks may think otherwise, but I would much rather have an additional hour of sunshine at end of the day.

[SoCal Midwest Noobie]

This would make 9 am sunrises in Michigan in winter! I am so annoyed right now. 8 am is bad enough!

[Sonny3]

Amazing. Something they can agree on and long overdue.

[Hebrews12]

Originally Posted by SoCal Midwest Noobie

This would make 9 am sunrises in Michigan in winter! I am so annoyed right now. 8 am is bad enough!

I agree with you. And while I don't care for it getting dark so early, I don't like the darkness early in the morning--especially when considering children going to school. I prefer an early sunrise! I say make standard time permanent.

[primaltech]

Originally Posted by uniquetraveler

For people like me who moved here from out of state, the hardest part of adjusting to Seattle is the winter months (November- February)- with rain, gloom, and short days. Moving to permanent DST will shift sunset to 5:30 pm from 4:30 pm, the extra hour of daylight will be very helpful. Early morning folks may think otherwise, but I would much rather have an additional hour of sunshine at end of the day.

But, I mean... it's not an extra hour of daylight, though. Seattle gets 8 hours 25 minutes of daylight at the winter solstice, and an amazing 16 hours at the summer solstice, and we can't change that no matter what number we assign to our clock...

DST has never made any sense to me. I mean, you can change the clock to make the Seattle sunset in December at 9:00 pm, okay, but then it won't rise until after noon. You've "saved" nothing.

The important thing is ceasing all the pointless clock changing back and forth. I only suggest permanent standard time, because then we could "fall back" one last time, and get back the hour of sleep that was just pointlessly stolen from us a few days ago.

[uniquetraveler]

Originally Posted by primaltech

But, I mean... it's not an extra hour of daylight, though. Seattle gets 8 hours 25 minutes of daylight at the winter solstice, and an amazing 16 hours at the summer solstice, and we can't change that no matter what number we assign to our clock...

DST has never made any sense to me. I mean, you can change the clock to make the Seattle sunset in December at 9:00 pm, okay, but then it won't rise until after noon. You've "saved" nothing.

The important thing is ceasing all the pointless clock changing back and forth. I only suggest permanent standard time, because then we could "fall back" one last time, and get back the hour of sleep that was just pointlessly stolen from us a few days ago.

I didn't mean an extra hour of sunlight in a literal sense. I am a night owl and wake up around 8/ 8:30 am, by the time I start my day it is 9/ 9:30am. So, the morning light is not really helpful, but the extra hour later in the afternoon during winter months will be great..

[jdhpa]

Originally Posted by Hebrews12

I agree with you. And while I don't care for it getting dark so early, I don't like the darkness early in the morning--especially when considering children going to school. I prefer an early sunrise! I say make standard time permanent.

Permanent DST was tried 50 years ago. Initially the idea was popular, but come Fall it didn't last:

https://www.washingtonian.com/2022/0...ople-hated-it/


I would also prefer permanent standard time.

[rjshae]

Originally Posted by primaltech

But, I mean... it's not an extra hour of daylight, though. Seattle gets 8 hours 25 minutes of daylight at the winter solstice, and an amazing 16 hours at the summer solstice, and we can't change that no matter what number we assign to our clock...

DST has never made any sense to me. I mean, you can change the clock to make the Seattle sunset in December at 9:00 pm, okay, but then it won't rise until after noon. You've "saved" nothing.

The important thing is ceasing all the pointless clock changing back and forth. I only suggest permanent standard time, because then we could "fall back" one last time, and get back the hour of sleep that was just pointlessly stolen from us a few days ago.

It does give you an extra hour of daylight in the evening, when you have some time to barbecue, watch a sports game, and do other recreational activities. So in that sense it's a positive.