Tennessee House Bill would eliminate daylight saving and establish year-round standard time

From Local 3 News: A bill moving through the Tennessee legislature could soon end the twice-a-year clock change for residents across the state.

House Bill 1300, filed by House Republican, Chris Todd, would require Tennessee to observe standard time year-round, eliminating the annual shift between daylight saving time in the spring and standard time in the fall.

Todd says the legislation responds to concerns he hears from constituents every year.

“Every year for a couple of weeks in the spring and in the fall, I hear requests and demands for us to do something to stop changing our clocks,” Todd said. “This bill does just that.”

If approved, the proposal would keep Tennessee on standard time permanently. Todd emphasized the change would not alter the amount of daylight the state receives, but would simply end the practice of adjusting clocks twice a year.

“We are obviously not adding or taking away any daylight hours that we experience,” Todd said. “We’re just leaving our clocks alone year round.”

Supporters of the measure also point to potential health concerns linked to the time change. Todd cited studies suggesting an increase in heart attacks, strokes, traffic accidents and workplace injuries in the days following the spring shift to daylight saving time.

Sleep specialist Dr. Anuj Chandra with the Advanced Center for Sleep Disorders says many experts support staying on standard time permanently.

“Permanent standard time has been endorsed by every single major sleep society, including the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, World Sleep Society, American Society of Occupational Medicine and more” Chandra said.

Chandra encourages lawmakers to carefully consider the scientific research when evaluating the proposal.

“Really look at the scientific data and not be biased by one industry or the other,” Chandra said. “There is scientific data that this is good for the body and more in tune with our biological rhythms."
 
Chandra says if the state switched to standard time, the numbers of obese people and cases of stroke would decrease drastically.

The bill has already cleared its first legislative hurdle. 5 out of the 6 members of the subcommittee voted to advance the measure.

It will now move to the State and Local Government Committee for further consideration on March 18.

If approved, the change will go into effect Sunday, March 14, 2027.