Wash. Legislature OKs step toward year-round daylight saving

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) – The Washington Legislature has approved a measure to make daylight saving time permanent in the state – if federal law changes to allow it.

The House approved changes made in the Senate on 90-6 vote Tuesday. The measure now heads to Gov. Jay Inslee.

Florida passed a similarly conditional measure last year, and in November, California voters passed a ballot measure to permit the state Legislature to establish daylight saving time year-round if federal law changes. A bill was introduced there a month after the election.

While federal law allows states to opt into standard time permanently – which Hawaii and Arizona have done – the reverse is prohibited and requires congressional action.

More than 30 states are considering legislation related to the practice of changing clocks twice a year, according the National Conference of State Legislatures.