Washington state Senate passes bill to make daylight saving time permanent

Washington’s state Senate this week passed legislation that would require the state to permanently observe daylight saving time year-round, The Seattle Times reported.

State senators passed the measure in a nearly unanimous vote Tuesday, just days after the House approved a similar bill.

{mosads}The Senate-passed measure now heads to the House for consideration, since the two bills differ in terms of next steps before implementation. According to The Seattle Times, the Senate bill would require voter approval of the proposal in the next general election.

State Rep. Marcus Riccelli (D), one of the House bill’s co-sponsors, told the newspaper he is excited by bipartisan support for making the time change permanent.

“We’ve had other bills like this, but this is the farthest it’s ever gone,” he said.

State Sen. Jim Honeyford (R), who sponsored the Senate legislation, told the paper, “It’s time to stop switching back and forth.”

Lawmakers in several other states, including California, are considering legislation that would bring an end to the biannual time change.

President Trump on Twitter this week threw his support behind efforts to keep the United States permanently on daylight saving time.