Sen. Dahm files legislation to keep Oklahoma on ‘Central Daylight Time’ year-round

OKLAHOMA CITY –Sen. Nathan Dahm, R-Broken Arrow, filed legislation on Wednesday to end the unnecessary and potentially harmful practice of setting clocks forward and back every year.

“As we pass through the shortest day of the year, let’s not forget the feds steal an hour from us each year with their daylight saving Ponzi scheme only to give it back later,” Dahm said. “It’s time we end this archaic practice in our state.”

Senate Bill 69 would create Central Daylight Time (CDT) in Oklahoma, ending the practice of turning clocks back an hour in November and then setting them forward an hour in March, keeping the extra hour of daylight all year long.

“There is a plethora of research indicating these arbitrary time changes can have long-term negative effects on sleep quality,” Dahm said. “This in turn increases the risk of health problems such as heart attacks, depression, and fatigue.”

A number of states have passed measures to end the practice, but federal legislation allowing the change seems to have stalled in the U.S. House of Representatives.

“Many states have already passed legislation to make Daylight Saving Time permanent,” Dahm said.  “In a typical show of Washington incompetence, bipartisan federal legislation allowing the changes has stalled in the House after passing the Senate. Oklahoma should join these states in order to keep the pressure on the feds to do something.”

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For more information, contact: Sen. Nathan Dahm at 405-521-5551 or email Nathan.Dahm@oksenate.gov.