Arkansas legislature introduces bill to eliminate Daylight Saving Time

Little Rock, Arkansas – Arkansas may soon abandon the practice of falling back if a bill introduced on Wednesday successfully moves forward.

Arkansas has introduced House Bill 1069, aiming to abolish Daylight Saving Time. Should the legislature approve it, the Natural State will continue to observe Greenwich Mean Time throughout the entire year.

The legislation permits state employees to modify their work hours to begin one hour earlier during the period when the rest of the nation observes Daylight Saving Time (DST), starting in early March and concluding on the first weekend of November.

Representative Stephen Meeks (R-Greenbrier) is the sponsor of HB 1069.

Should the legislation be approved, Arkansas will align with Hawaii and Arizona by discontinuing the observance of Daylight Saving Time.

Proponents of abolishing daylight saving time highlight the struggle of losing an hour of sleep in March and the challenges of readjusting sleep patterns afterward. Removing Daylight Saving Time would also resolve timing inconsistencies, as not all states and countries participate in this practice.

A study conducted in 2023 revealed that the shift in light exposure associated with Daylight Saving Time is linked to an increase in suicide rates and overall mortality.

Daylight Saving Time was initiated on March 19, 1918, as a measure to conserve energy amid World War I. Initially referred to as War Time, it lasted for a year before being reinstated in February 1942 due to World War II, only to be revoked once more in 1945.

Congress enacted the Uniform Time Act, establishing a national standard time and instituting the annual observance of Daylight Saving Time. In 2005, President George W. Bush implemented an extension of Daylight Saving Time, increasing its duration by several weeks.