Washington takes another step toward year-round daylight saving time

OLYMPIA – Washington state took another step toward having its clocks set to daylight saving time year-round as Gov. Jay Inslee signed a bill that would allow the state to never “fall back” in November.

But there’s a catch: The law only goes into effect if U.S. Congress gives states the authority to do that.

Congress currently has four bills – three in the House, one in the Senate – that would allow states to opt into year-round daylight saving time. But none of them have received a committee hearing, let alone a vote in the full chamber. Whether any of the bills will pass Congress before this November is unknown.

If federal approval is granted, Washington would join California, Oregon, and perhaps British Columbia in having permanent daylight saving time along the Pacific Coast.

The bill Inslee signed, sponsored by Rep. Marcus Riccelli, D-Spokane, passed the Legislature with large, bipartisan majorities, receiving 90 yes votes in the House and 46 in the Senate.