H-2476.2
HOUSE BILL 2119
State of Washington
69th Legislature
2026 Regular Session
By Representatives Dufault, Marshall, Dye, Griffey, and Bernbaum
Prefiled 12/09/25. Read first time 01/12/26. Referred to Committee on State Government & Tribal Relations.
AN ACT Relating to moving Washington state to permanent standard time; amending RCW 1.20.050 and 35A.21.190 ; amending 2019 c 297 s 4 (uncodified); creating a new section; repealing RCW 1.20.055 ; repealing 2019 c 297 s 3; and repealing 2019 c 297 s 5 (uncodified).
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that the biannual shift between standard time and daylight saving time imposes avoidable and well-documented burdens on the health, safety, and economic well-being of Washington residents. A growing body of medical and public health research demonstrates that the abrupt changes to the sleep-wake cycle disrupt circadian rhythms and are associated with increased rates of cardiac events, workplace injuries, traffic collisions, and reduced productivity in the days immediately following the time change. These impacts fall disproportionately on children, older adults, individuals with sleep disorders, and workers in safety-sensitive occupations.
The legislature further finds that maintaining permanent standard time provides a more stable alignment with human biological clocks, reduces seasonal sleep debt, and supports long-term health outcomes. Leading sleep medicine organizations have concluded that permanent standard time is the option most consistent with optimal public health.