Illinois would immediately eliminate daylight saving time if two of its neighboring states, Missouri and Iowa, got exemptions to do the same.
The proposal comes with Illinois House Bill 5400 and would be an amendment to the Illinois Time Standardization Act. It was filed by Democratic Rep. Daniel Didech, who represents communities north of Chicago in the 59th state House District.
The bill also offers findings that would make the switch to permanent standard time necessary for Illinois:
- Changing clocks seasonally is disruptive to the health, safety, education, and economy of the people of the State of Illinois.
- Federal law only permits permanent standard time by exemption from daylight saving time as an alternative to seasonally changing clocks.
- Permanent daylight saving time has historically been repealed due to its harmful effects, soon after its trials during World War II and the 1970s Oil Crisis.
- Permanent standard time has historically proven to last without incident for decades.
- The American Academy of Sleep Medicine, National Sleep Foundation, Sleep Research Society, and Society for Research on Biological Rhythms advise against permanent daylight saving time and recommend permanent standard time.
- Standard time is intended to approximate natural solar time.
- Coordination with contiguous states regarding timekeeping is essential to the convenience of commerce.
And even if Didech’s bill becomes law, it doesn’t look like Missouri and Iowa are close to making standard time year-round. In the past, Missouri has had bills offering both permanent standard time and permanent daylight time. Efforts in Iowa have mostly been toward making daylight time permanent as well…