LINCOLN — State lawmakers again punted Tuesday on making a final decision on how to end Nebraska’s twice-a-year changing of the clocks back and forth, leaving it up to one more debate.
Lawmakers again advanced Legislative Bill 34, from State Sen. Megan Hunt of Omaha for permanent daylight saving time (the current position of the clocks as of this past Sunday through early November), and LB 302, from State Sen. Dave Murman of Glenvil for permanent standard time (in the winter months between November and early March), this time to the third and final round of debate.
Unlike the first round of debate three weeks ago, more lawmakers picked only one of the options:
- 14 senators supported only permanent standard time.
- 14 senators supported only permanent daylight saving time.
- 13 senators supported both bills.
- 5 senators voted against both bills.
- 2 senators did not take a position on either bill.
State Sen. Merv Riepe of Ralston voted against permanent daylight saving time (LB 34) and was “present, not voting” on permanent standard time (LB 302). He confirmed to the Nebraska Examiner that he supports permanent standard time.
Speaker John Arch of La Vista is in charge of scheduling and told the Examiner that, should both bills pass during the final round of debate, the decision goes to Gov. Jim Pillen.
If Pillen also signs both bills, the final bill he signs would become law.
A spokesperson for Pillen did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the bills.
Both bills would require surrounding states to adopt similar laws before taking effect:
- For Hunt’s bill, three adjacent states to Nebraska would need to adopt a single year-round time.
- For Murman’s bill, Iowa, Kansas, South Dakota and Wyoming would all need to adopt legislation for year-round standard time. Multiple senators have said the list should include Colorado, to prevent a “southwest Nebraska time-zone island.”
Hunt has advocated for year-round daylight time to have the sun later in the evening, particularly in summer months, to help businesses and economic development.
Murman has received support from the Nebraska Medical Association and other major medical organizations for year-round standard time, for purported health benefits better aligned with natural circadian rhythms.
Year-round daylight saving time, from Hunt, would require federal approval, either through Congress or a rule change from the U.S. secretary of transportation. The United States briefly had year-round daylight saving time between Jan. 6, 1974, and April 27, 1975, in response to the 1973 oil crisis.
States can choose to adopt year-round standard time, which Hawaii and Arizona (excluding the Navajo Nation) observe.
How lawmakers voted during the second round of 2025 debate on changing clocks
Advance BOTH permanent daylight saving AND standard time (13): Christy Armendariz, John Cavanaugh, Stan Clouse, Danielle Conrad, George Dungan, Jana Hughes, Teresa Ibach, Margo Juarez, Jane Raybould, Victor Rountree, Rita Sanders, Ashlei Spivey, Paul Strommen
OPPOSE both bills (5): John Arch, Carolyn Bosn, Rob Clements, Rob Dover, Rick Holdcroft
Advance ONLY permanent DAYLIGHT SAVING time (14): Bob Andersen, Eliot Bostar, Machaela Cavanaugh, Wendy DeBoer, Myron Dorn, John Fredrickson, Dunixi Guereca, Bob Hallstrom, Megan Hunt, Terrelll McKinney, Jason Prokop, Dan Quick, Tony Sorrentino, Brad von Gillern
Advance ONLY permanent STANDARD time (14*): Tom Brandt, Barry DeKay, Ben Hansen, Mike Jacobson, Kathleen Kauth, Loren Lippincott, Dan Lonowski, Dan McKeon, Glen Meyer, Mike Moser, Dave Murman, Tanya Storer, Jared Storm, Woody Wordekemper
DID NOT VOTE on both bills (2): Beau Ballard, Brian Hardin
*State Sen. Merv Riepe opposed daylight saving time and was “present, not voting” on standard time. He confirmed he supports permanent standard time after the votes.