HB 2119
In CommitteeHouse
Permanent standard time
Moving Washington state to permanent standard time.
This status may be delayed. See Action History below for the latest updates.
How does a bill become law?
- Introduced: The bill is filed and assigned a number.
- Committee: A subject-matter committee holds hearings, takes public testimony, and decides whether to advance the bill.
- Floor Vote: The full chamber (House or Senate) debates and votes on the bill.
- Opposite Chamber: The bill repeats the committee and floor vote process in the other chamber.
- Governor: The Governor reviews the bill and decides whether to sign or veto it.
- Signed: The bill has been signed into law.
AI Analysis
Washington would stop switching between standard time and daylight saving time and stay on standard time year-round. Research cited in the bill links this to better health, safety, and efficiency by avoiding the disruptive twice-yearly time shifts.
- Establishes permanent standard time as the official time for Washington State, eliminating the biannual switch to daylight saving time.
- Amends existing state law (RCW 1.20.050) to formally adopt standard time year-round and prohibits local jurisdictions from observing daylight saving time.
- Repeals laws that previously authorized daylight saving time in Washington, including RCW 1.20.051 and related sections from the 2019 Uniform Time Act amendments.
- Prohibits counties, cities, and other local governments from adopting daylight saving time unless a national standard time change occurs.
- Clarifies that federal time rules still apply to interstate commerce and federal operations, but Washington’s permanent standard time applies to all other state and local matters.
Who is affected
- Washington residents — Residents may experience improved sleep and health outcomes due to elimination of biannual time changes; also benefit from reduced risk of traffic crashes and workplace injuries year-round.
- Businesses and employers — Will no longer need to adjust schedules, software systems, or public communications twice per year for time changes, reducing operational costs and administrative burden.
- School districts and students — Will no longer need to adjust school start times, bus schedules, or student routines twice per year, improving consistency for learning and safety.
- Transit agencies and technology providers — Will no longer need to update software, transit apps, or scheduling systems for time changes, reducing IT and logistics costs.
- State and local government agencies — Will no longer need to issue emergency proclamations or coordinate time changes during emergencies, streamlining operations.
Pro/Con Analysis
Stronger case for benefits
Potential Benefits (5)
Eliminating biannual time shifts is projected to reduce acute health risks—including heart attacks, strokes, and depressive episodes—particularly among vulnerable populations (children, elderly, shift workers), with strong support from sleep medicine research cited in the bill.
HealthcarePeopleRef: Sec. 1 (findings)Reduces traffic crashes and workplace injuries in the days following clock changes, which studies (e.g., from the AAA Foundation and U.S. DOT) show spike by 6–17% in the week after spring forward; this benefits all residents, especially those in safety-sensitive jobs.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 1 (findings)Eliminates recurring operational costs for businesses—especially small and medium enterprises—related to rescheduling, software updates, and communication about time changes, improving productivity and reducing errors.
Business & EmploymentPeopleRef: Sec. 1 (findings)Provides schedule stability for schools—no need to adjust bus times, class schedules, or after-school programs twice yearly—reducing stress for students, parents, and staff, and supporting consistent learning environments.
EducationPeopleRef: Sec. 1 (findings)Reduces administrative burden on state and local agencies—including emergency management, public transit, and corrections—by eliminating biannual time change coordination, allowing staff to focus on core services.
Local GovernmentPeopleRef: Sec. 1 (findings)
Potential Concerns (5)
Permanent standard time may reduce evening daylight during winter months, potentially increasing traffic crashes and personal safety risks for commuters, schoolchildren, and outdoor workers in western Washington, where winter sunsets occur as early as 4:30 PM.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 2(3)While eliminating biannual time changes reduces administrative burden, local governments lose flexibility to align with neighboring jurisdictions or federal schedules during emergencies or cross-border operations—particularly problematic for counties in the Spokane or Vancouver metro areas that coordinate with Idaho or Oregon, which may not adopt permanent standard time.
Local GovernmentLean peopleRef: Sec. 2(3)Businesses engaged in interstate or national operations (e.g., logistics, finance, tech support) may face internal coordination challenges or increased IT complexity when Washington operates on a different clock than federal standards or neighboring states for part of the year.
Business & EmploymentLean peopleRef: Sec. 2(4)Aircraft scheduling and air traffic control—governed by federal time zones—may require temporary local adjustments during transitions, though the bill explicitly carves out federal operations, limiting direct impact.
TransportationRef: Sec. 2(3)Winter morning commutes for school buses and student athletes may occur in darker conditions, potentially increasing safety risks—especially in eastern Washington where sunrise times under standard time are significantly later than under DST.
EducationLean peopleRef: Sec. 2(3)
Who Is Most Affected
Children and adolescents benefit most from improved sleep regularity and reduced morning alertness issues—especially in winter—though those in eastern WA may face darker morning commutes. Overall net positive health and safety impact.
Older adults and individuals with chronic health conditions (e.g., cardiovascular disease, sleep disorders) experience fewer acute health events post-time change, but may be disproportionately affected by darker winter mornings if outdoor activity is curtailed.
Logistics, transportation, and tech firms with national operations may face minor coordination costs, but most small and local businesses benefit from reduced administrative overhead and fewer scheduling errors.
School districts gain operational consistency and safety, but districts in eastern WA may need to adjust lighting and transportation protocols for darker winter mornings—costs likely offset by reduced twice-yearly re-scheduling efforts.
State and local agencies reduce recurring IT and administrative costs, but may face minor challenges coordinating with federal agencies or neighboring states that retain DST or different standards.