How Permanant Daylight Saving Time Would Change ND Winters

What is the Sunshine Protection Act?

According to Wikipedia, this is a bipartisan federal bill designed to make Daylight Saving Time permanent nationwide. This would make the biannual practice of changing clocks "spring forward" and "fall back" no longer needed. It would also keep the United States one hour ahead of standard time year-round.

What is the Legislative Status?

First off, this bill is endorsed by the President. It has already overwhelmingly passed the House of Representatives by a margin of 308 to 117. The bill now moves to the Senate, where a similar effort stalled at this point back in 2022. An official date when the Sunshine Protection Act will be voted on is still uncertain, and it will likely face some opposition.

Opponents say there is a ton of money and powerful lobbyists behind this change to permanent Daylight Saving Time, including the golf industry, petroleum and gas, tourism, retail, and convenience stores. If you do the math, if it's lighter longer at night, people will spend more money. The American Academy of Sleep is 100% opposed to this change, and claims profits are being chosen over people. It's also noted that the United States tried this very same thing back in 1974, and allegedly everyone was miserable, so they repealed it 10 months later.

How Permanant Daylight Savings Time Would Affect North Dakota

You can expect much darker, later mornings. Instead of the sun coming up between 7:30 and 8 am, winter sunrises will mostly happen after 8 am in Bismarck-Mandan. In the northwestern parts of the state (Williston), sunrises would be even later, after 9 am during the peak of winter.

I guess I would argue that the majority of children today are dropped off at school by their parents or take the bus. Very few kids walk to school these days, compared to back in 1974.

You can also expect brighter, later evenings. Winter sunsets in North Dakota would be pushed back to after 5 pm during the peak of winter. Proponents of this bill say this extra hour of light would lead to better fitness, more activity, and community health.

As a big hunter and fisherman, this would mean I could sleep in later and hunt and fish longer during the fall and winter timeframe. I, for one, kind of like this idea.

How do you feel about permanent Daylight Saving Time? Is this a good thing for North Dakota? Let us know in our Facebook comments.