Idaho House committee OKs bill to end daylight saving time

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Idaho residents wouldn’t have to fall back or spring ahead for daylight saving time under legislation introduced Thursday.

The House State Affairs Committee voted to introduce the measure brought forward by Republican Rep. Christy Zito.

She said the twice-a-year time change was a safety hazard that caused temporary jet lag leading to injuries among motorists and pedestrians. She said it also increased the chances of strokes and heart attacks.

Zito introduced similar legislation last year, but it failed in the full House on a 55-15 vote. A similar fate is expected this year, and there was some mirth among lawmakers on the committee.

“At this point, it seems like the only one who can mess with time is God,” said Rep. Vito Barbieri, who is in favor of ending daylight saving time and moved to approve introducing the bill. “We’re going to try again.”

Zito after the meeting acknowledged getting the bill signed into law is a long shot but said it’s high on the list of what her constituents in rural southwestern Idaho want.

“I always remember that I work for the people, and when I get emails and when I go into the grocery store and people ask me if I’m going to fight for them to get daylight saving time revoked, I hardly can’t not,” she said.