Daylight Saving Time
Allow legislature to make Daylight Saving permanent. Gives elected officials flexibility to end biannual time changes.
Proposition 7 would give the California Legislature the power to change the state’s daylight saving time period, including potentially making daylight saving time year-round (with federal approval).
Gives the legislature appropriate flexibility
Currently, California’s daylight saving time is set by a 1949 ballot measure. Modifying it requires another ballot measure. This is unnecessarily rigid — the legislature should be able to make decisions about time changes without going to voters for every adjustment.
Prop 7 doesn’t automatically change anything; it simply gives elected legislators the authority to act if they determine it’s in the state’s interest. This is how most policy decisions should work.
Biannual time changes have costs
Research suggests the biannual “spring forward” and “fall back” disruptions have health and productivity costs, including increased heart attacks and car accidents in the days following time changes. While the evidence is mixed, giving the legislature power to address this makes sense.
Federal coordination required
Even if Prop 7 passes and the legislature acts, year-round daylight saving would require federal approval under the Uniform Time Act. This ensures California wouldn’t be completely out of sync with other states — the legislature would only be able to make changes the federal government permits.
Vote yes on Prop 7 to give legislators appropriate authority over time policy.
These recommendations are my own, and do not reflect positions of organizations I’m associated with.