Latest news with #LegislativeBill34
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Nebraska lawmakers again punt final choice between permanent daylight, standard time
A series of bills in Nebraska are aiming to change how the state handles changing clocks twice a year in 2025. (Getty Images) LINCOLN — State lawmakers again punted Tuesday on making a final decision on how to end Nebraska's twice-a-year changing of the clocks back and forth, leaving it up to one more debate. Lawmakers again advanced Legislative Bill 34, from State Sen. Megan Hunt of Omaha for permanent daylight saving time (the current position of the clocks as of this past Sunday through early November), and LB 302, from State Sen. Dave Murman of Glenvil for permanent standard time (in the winter months between November and early March), this time to the third and final round of debate. Unlike the first round of debate three weeks ago, more lawmakers picked only one of the options: 14 senators supported only permanent standard time. 14 senators supported only permanent daylight saving time. 13 senators supported both bills. 5 senators voted against both bills. 2 senators did not take a position on either bill. State Sen. Merv Riepe of Ralston voted against permanent daylight saving time (LB 34) and was 'present, not voting' on permanent standard time (LB 302). He confirmed to the Nebraska Examiner that he supports permanent standard time. Speaker John Arch of La Vista is in charge of scheduling and told the Examiner that, should both bills pass during the final round of debate, the decision goes to Gov. Jim Pillen. If Pillen also signs both bills, the final bill he signs would become law. A spokesperson for Pillen did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the bills. Both bills would require surrounding states to adopt similar laws before taking effect: For Hunt's bill, three adjacent states to Nebraska would need to adopt a single year-round time. For Murman's bill, Iowa, Kansas, South Dakota and Wyoming would all need to adopt legislation for year-round standard time. Multiple senators have said the list should include Colorado, to prevent a 'southwest Nebraska time-zone island.' Hunt has advocated for year-round daylight time to have the sun later in the evening, particularly in summer months, to help businesses and economic development. Murman has received support from the Nebraska Medical Association and other major medical organizations for year-round standard time, for purported health benefits better aligned with natural circadian rhythms. Year-round daylight saving time, from Hunt, would require federal approval, either through Congress or a rule change from the U.S. secretary of transportation. The United States briefly had year-round daylight saving time between Jan. 6, 1974, and April 27, 1975, in response to the 1973 oil crisis. States can choose to adopt year-round standard time, which Hawaii and Arizona (excluding the Navajo Nation) observe. Advance BOTH permanent daylight saving AND standard time (13): Christy Armendariz, John Cavanaugh, Stan Clouse, Danielle Conrad, George Dungan, Jana Hughes, Teresa Ibach, Margo Juarez, Jane Raybould, Victor Rountree, Rita Sanders, Ashlei Spivey, Paul Strommen OPPOSE both bills (5): John Arch, Carolyn Bosn, Rob Clements, Rob Dover, Rick Holdcroft Advance ONLY permanent DAYLIGHT SAVING time (14): Bob Andersen, Eliot Bostar, Machaela Cavanaugh, Wendy DeBoer, Myron Dorn, John Fredrickson, Dunixi Guereca, Bob Hallstrom, Megan Hunt, Terrelll McKinney, Jason Prokop, Dan Quick, Tony Sorrentino, Brad von Gillern Advance ONLY permanent STANDARD time (14*): Tom Brandt, Barry DeKay, Ben Hansen, Mike Jacobson, Kathleen Kauth, Loren Lippincott, Dan Lonowski, Dan McKeon, Glen Meyer, Mike Moser, Dave Murman, Tanya Storer, Jared Storm, Woody Wordekemper DID NOT VOTE on both bills (2): Beau Ballard, Brian Hardin *State Sen. Merv Riepe opposed daylight saving time and was 'present, not voting' on standard time. He confirmed he supports permanent standard time after the votes. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Lawmakers advance competing bills to end Nebraska's twice-yearly clock changing
The Nebraska Legislature is debating an end to twice-a-year clock switching. A pair of competing bills advanced Thursday. (Photo by) LINCOLN — The full Nebraska Legislature again signaled majority support Thursday for ending the twice-a-year practice of changing the clocks. However, nearly 30 state senators chose to advance both bills before the Legislature this year that would do so differently, delaying a final decision on whether permanent daylight saving time or permanent standard time should be the path forward for the Cornhusker State. Most lawmakers said they could be swayed in either direction. Legislative Bill 34, from State Sen. Megan Hunt of Omaha, advanced 29-13 to establish year-round daylight saving time. That's the period between March and November when much of the country 'springs forward' one hour and offers later sunsets in the summer. LB 302, from State Sen. Dave Murman of Glenvil, advanced 28-9 for year-round standard time. That's the current position of clocks after 'falling back' one hour for earlier sunrises in the winter. Hunt led the charge on permanent daylight saving time from an economics position, arguing it could be better for parents to attend children's games later at night in the sun, play golf and go to restaurants or shops. 'It's a better thing for the economy,' Hunt said. 'It's a better thing for things like seasonal depression and just kind of the winter blues that you get when you don't have any sunlight.' Murman and State Sen. Kathleen Kauth of the Millard area led the charge on permanent standard time from a health standpoint. Murman said it offered 'superior benefits' that have been endorsed by major medical organizations. Kauth pointed to many of those medical societies, including the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, American Medical Association, Nebraska Medical Association and British Sleep Society. She said Murman's bill is best to end a 'tug of war' between biological and alarm clocks. 'Daylight saving time increases the risk to our physical health, mental well-being and public safety,' Kauth said. 'Permanent standard time is the optimal choice for health and safety.' Both bills would not go into effect until other surrounding states adopt similar laws: For Hunt's bill, three adjacent states to Nebraska would need to adopt a single year-round standard of time. For Murman's bill, Iowa, Kansas, South Dakota and Wyoming would all need to adopt legislation for year-round standard time. Some senators have said the list should include Colorado, to prevent a 'time-zone island' in southwest Nebraska. Federal law currently prohibits year-round daylight saving time but does allow year-round standard time, which Hawaii and Arizona (excluding the Navajo Nation) observe. President Donald Trump has voiced support for ending the twice-a-year clock changing. Of Nebraska's neighboring states: Colorado and Wyoming have already adopted year-round daylight saving time, and Iowa is considering the same, like Hunt's LB 34. South Dakota and Kansas are considering year-round standard time, like Murman's LB 302. Missouri, like Nebraska, is considering either approach. Hunt and Murman found common ground in wanting to end the clock-changing practice, which research indicates leads to increases in seizures, heart attacks, strokes, car accidents and workplace injuries shortly after each twice-yearly change. State Sen. John Cavanaugh of Omaha, one of 19 senators to advance both bills, said Hunt's bill might be good for recreation, but he also pointed to his children complaining about going to sleep in the summer while the sun is out and that an earlier sunset could allow fireworks sooner. He said it's nice to wake up in the morning alongside the sun, in standard time, to make breakfast for his children, which 'makes the morning more pleasant.' 'When we make a decision, we are saying what time it is going to be, which is a huge responsibility,' Cavanaugh said. In a light-hearted moment of the debate, his older sister, State Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh of Omaha, joked that her brother needed to be 'more responsible' about expanded fireworks use. 'I genuinely hate fireworks,' she said. 'I know that makes me a killjoy, possibly unpatriotic, but I hate fireworks, and therefore I cannot in good conscience support a bill that would enable extra hours of fireworks.' State Sen. Myron Dorn of Adams, first elected alongside Hunt and Murman in 2018, said his wife told him after he won that she didn't care what he did up in Lincoln or what he passed, except one issue: 'Pass something about not changing the clocks,' he recounted. Freshman State Sen. Tanya Storer of Whitman was among those who praised the issue for being nonpartisan and widespread, not limited to urban-rural splits. She ultimately supported permanent standard time, from Murman, from an agricultural perspective. Storer represents 11 counties in north-central Nebraska where she noted some farmers wait to put out hay or begin harvesting until the sun is out. Permanent standard time, she said, could also be better for students who are waiting on the bus in the winter, sometimes over an hour in rural parts of the state. 'I just think we have to be aware of what life looks like for our kiddos in terms of just getting on the bus, returning from schools and trying to provide a natural setting in hours of daylight during those hours for them as well,' Storer said. State Sen. Dunixi Guereca of Omaha noted later permanent daylight saving time might help the Nebraska Huskers football team bring back a national championship with later practices. State Sen. Rick Holdcroft of Bellevue, a retired U.S. Navy officer, said he is no stranger to time changes while slowly transiting the Pacific Ocean, with clocks changing about once every three days. 'I think we're fine the way we are,' Holdcroft, one of four senators to oppose both bills, said. Hunt, who had originally said this year she'd be fine with ending the clock change through either her bill or the approach from Murman, told her colleagues she had changed her mind. She told her colleagues if they didn't want permanent daylight time to leave the twice-a-year clock change in place. 'At least the status quo, at least how it is right now, when we have these dark, depressing winters, we can at least look forward to the late nights in the summer when we have sunshine, we can sit on our patios,' Hunt said. 'If we take that away, I don't know what I'm going to do.' Advance BOTH permanent daylight saving AND standard time (19): Bob Andersen, John Arch, Christy Armendariz, John Cavanaugh, Danielle Conrad, Wendy DeBoer, Barry DeKay, George Dungan, Bob Hallstrom, Teresa Ibach, Mike Jacobson, Loren Lippincott, Jason Prokop, Jane Raybould, Merv Riepe, Victor Rountree, Rita Sanders, Ashlei Spivey, Dave Wordekemper OPPOSE both bills (4): Carolyn Bosn, Rob Clements, Rob Dover, Rick Holdcroft Advance ONLY permanent DAYLIGHT SAVING time (10): Beau Ballard, Stan Clouse, Myron Dorn, John Fredrickson, Jana Hughes, Megan Hunt, Margo Juarez, Dan Quick, Tony Sorrentino, Paul Strommen Advance ONLY permanent STANDARD time (9): Tom Brandt, Ben Hansen, Kathleen Kauth, Dan McKeon, Glen Meyer, Mike Moser, Dave Murman, Jared Storm, Tanya Storer DID NOT VOTE on both bills (7): Eliot Bostar, Machaela Cavanaugh, Dunixi Guereca, Brian Hardin, Dan Lonowski, Terrell McKinney, Brad von Gillern SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Year-round standard time, daylight saving time bills both advance from Nebraska committee
A series of bills in Nebraska are aiming to change how the state handles changing clocks twice a year in 2025. (Getty Images) LINCOLN — Nebraska lawmakers are another step closer to ending the twice-a-year switching of clocks back and forth one hour, but whether that is by shifting year-round to standard time or daylight saving time hasn't been decided. The Legislature's eight-member Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee voted unanimously Thursday to advance Legislative Bill 34 for year-round daylight saving time, from State Sen. Megan Hunt of Omaha, and LB 302 for year-round standard time, from State Sen. Dave Murman of Glenvil. Standard time refers to how most clocks in the U.S. are set in the winter, while daylight saving time is the period between the second Sunday in March (to 'spring ahead' one hour) and the first Sunday in November (to 'fall back' one hour to standard time). Daylight saving leads to the sun setting at a later time in the summer, which organizations supporting youth sports and golf urged the committee last week to embrace. The national group Save Standard Time urged the committee to consider the 'honest, natural clock, set to the sun' as part of permanent standard time and its variety of natural benefits. Hunt, a member of the committee, said she prefers daylight saving because the sun sets later in the summer, but the general goal is ending the clock switching. 'I don't care which way we set the clocks,' Hunt said in a January text. 'I just support stopping the madness of changing the time twice a year.' Both bills would not go into effect until other surrounding states adopt similar laws: For Hunt's bill, three adjacent states to Nebraska would need to adopt a single year-round standard of time. For Murman's bill, Iowa, Kansas, South Dakota and Wyoming would all need to adopt legislation for year-round standard time. State Sen. Teresa Ibach of Sumner has said the list should include Colorado, to prevent a 'southwest Nebraska time-zone island.' Federal law currently prohibits year-round daylight saving time but does allow year-round standard time, which Hawaii and Arizona (excluding the Navajo Nation) observe. Committee members were divided on the issue, with State Sen. Dunixi Guereca of Omaha voicing a possible preference toward permanent daylight saving time to have sun later in the summer for drinking margaritas and State Sen. Dan Lonowski of Hastings noting later sun could help youth sports and businesses at night. State Sen. Rita Sanders of Bellevue, the committee chair, asked about year-round daylight saving time leading to some students waiting at bus stops in the dark in the winter. Lonowski also pointed to purported health benefits of permanent standard time, which have been highlighted by major medical organizations. Doctors have noted the twice-a-year clock changing leads to negative health impacts, including increased risk of heart attacks, strokes, accidents and mental health disruptions. The committee will consider yet another approach later this year from State Sen. Danielle Conrad of Lincoln — Legislative Resolution 33 — to pass the decision on permanent standard or daylight saving time entirely to Congress. If passed, the resolution would urge Nebraska's five-member congressional delegation to take 'affirmative action' on clock-changing reform. The resolution states: 'Such reform should advance Nebraska's commitment to enhancing individual and family health, growing economic productivity, protecting agriculture, advancing Nebraska's public safety goals and ensuring national uniformity.' The committee on Thursday did not discuss a proposal to shift Nebraska's method of awarding Electoral College votes for president to winner-take-all. And it passed over, for now, a measure that sought to prohibit local governments from considering rent control proposals. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
27-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Twice-a-year clock switching could tick closer to end under three Nebraska proposals
A series of bills in Nebraska are aiming to change how the state handles changing clocks twice a year. (Getty Images) LINCOLN — Nebraskans tired of switching their clocks twice each year, in March and November, could have three legislative proposals to choose from this year to inch toward ending the practice. State Sens. Megan Hunt of Omaha, Dave Murman of Glenvil and Danielle Conrad of Lincoln have introduced, or plan to introduce, proposals to help end the time switch, which the senators said they, like many Nebraskans, are generally over with. 'I don't care which way we set the clocks,' Hunt said in a text. 'I just support stopping the madness of changing the time twice a year.' Hunt's Legislative Bill 34 would provide for year-round daylight saving time, maintaining the period between March and November to preserve sunlight later in the day — between the second Sunday in March ('spring ahead') and the first Sunday in November ('fall back'). Murman's LB 302 would provide for year-round standard time, the current position of the clocks in the colder fall and winter months when the sun rises earlier. Both bills would not go into effect until other surrounding states adopt similar laws: For Hunt's bill, three adjacent states to Nebraska would need to adopt a single year-round standard of time. For Murman's bill, Iowa, Kansas, South Dakota and Wyoming would all need to adopt legislation for year-round standard time. Federal law currently prohibits year-round daylight saving time but does allow year-round standard time, which Hawaii and Arizona (excluding the Navajo Nation) observe. The bills are up for a hearing before the Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee on Friday at 1:30 p.m. Conrad's yet-to-be-introduced legislative resolution would more broadly urge Nebraska's congressional representatives to push for a uniform decision and end the 'antiquated' clock changes. It echoes calls from President Donald Trump and bipartisan U.S. senators to find a permanent solution, according to draft language shared with the Nebraska Examiner. State Sen. Teresa Ibach of Sumner proposed LR 276 in 2024 examining Nebraska's time zone boundary in western Nebraska and urging Congress to move the line a little west, matching where Nebraska's panhandle begins. It would affect the counties of Dundy, Chase and Perkins in Ibach's district, as well as Keith, Arthur, Grant, Hooker and the western part of Cherry. She said lawmakers should be deliberate in deciding what to do with the clock switching because of the extra state approval needed. Ibach suggested bringing Colorado into the conversation would be helpful, particularly for the three Mountain Time Zone counties in her district that 'sandwich' between Colorado and other Nebraska counties in the Central Time Zone. If Colorado sticks with the clocks as is, year-round standard time would create a 'southwest Nebraska time-zone island,' between March and November, for Perkins, Chase and Dundy Counties, as reported by the North Platte Telegraph and Scottsbluff Star-Herald. Those residents would be surrounded in the west by a different version of the Mountain Time Zone and in the east by Nebraska's Central Time Zone. 'I think we need to dissect it just a little bit further and find out the repercussions of actually passing legislation or investigating if we can pass that legislation,' Ibach said. Ibach said it's possible that any of the proposals could restart conversations on moving the time zone a few miles west, while she understands arguments from some local residents opposed because that system is all they've ever known. Moving the time zone would also require the blessing of at least South Dakota and Kansas. Hunt said she is a night owl and likes it sunny later in the evening, but she's cosigning Murman's bill to end the practice either way. Conrad has added her name to both measures and led a defeated effort in 2024 on behalf of former State Sen. Tom Briese of Albion, now the state treasurer. Murman said he prefers standard time because of purported health benefits, aligning with more sun in the morning when people are starting their day, including students. Former State Sen. Steve Erdman of Bayard was an ardent proponent of year-round standard time, particularly for the effect on his Mountain Time residents and students. Erdman famously stated in March 2022: 'The sun comes up at an appointed time every day irregardless of what we say the time is. … When God created time, he put the sun right in the middle of the sky at noon. And if it's good enough for God, it's good enough for me.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
