NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — The bill to observe daylight saving time year-round in Tennessee passed today and will now be up for a full floor vote.
House Bill 247 is being filed by Rep. Rick Tillis (R – Lewisburg) and if passed, would make daylight saving time the standard time of the entire state.
Tillis has said in the past that the extra hour would improve health and the overall quality of life for people living in the state. He also feels it would encourage people to stay active and spend time supporting local businesses.
"It causes a lot of issues," said Tillis. "Especially when we spring forward, people with health problems, seasonal effective disorder, autistic children [who have a] very regimented schedule and this really throws them off."
However, even if it does get approved at the state level, the law can't go into effect unless it's signed off by the federal government.
According to the bill, the law would take effect on the first Sunday of November after the United States Congress amends or repeals 15 U.S.C. § 260a (15 U.S. Code Section 260a) – a federal law that requires states to observe standard time.
In other words, states can exempt themselves from observing daylight saving time but not standard time.
Hawaii is the only state that doesn’t observe DST at all. Additionally, most of Arizona doesn’t move its clocks forward every year – with the exception being the Navajo Nation.
