Seven Tries, Same Result: Why Idaho Still Can’t Ban DST

I'm sure you're well aware of the origins of Daylight Saving Time. DST started as a wartime energy saver, meant to stretch daylight hours and conserve fuel and electricity. But over the years, we’ve learned that it has some serious, unhealthy side effects.  It’s messing with our sleep patterns and body clocks. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine said the seasonal time changes should be abolished in favor of year-round standard time. The public agrees. An AP/NORC survey found only 12 percent of U.S. adults favor the current system of changing clocks twice a year. 

So why are we still doing it in Idaho? I did some digging and found 7 recent attempts Idaho has made to abolish the time change, but came up short.

Below are seven failed attempts to ditch the time change in Idaho.

2014: House Bill 559

Rep. Mike Moyle introduced HB 559, which would have exempted Idaho from observing Daylight Saving Time. It was introduced and discussed publicly, but it never became law.

2015: House Bill 198

HB 198 was another try to stop the clock-changing routine. It drew attention because the proposal was described as year-round Daylight Saving Time. That created some issues that didn’t align with federal law, and the bill was withdrawn.

Read More: Idaho Sunset Times Before and After Daylight Saving Time

2019: House Bill 85

HB 85 was the attempt that got the most public attention. It would have ended the twice-a-year switch in Idaho. It made it to the House floor and was voted down 55 to 15.

2019: House Bill 123

HB 123 tried a narrower approach, aimed at exempting an area of Idaho from the federal Daylight Saving Time provisions. It was introduced and referred to, but it did not advance into law.

2020: House Bill 358

HB 358 brought the statewide exemption idea back again. It was introduced and moved early, but it stalled after being returned to committee.

2024: House Bill 584

HB 584 took a regional coordination approach. It would have exempted Idaho from Daylight Saving Time, but only after two neighboring states. like Oregon and Washington, also opted. That way, Idaho would not be out of sync. It advanced, but ended the session as Engrossed Dead.

2025: House Bill 140

HB 140 was the newest attempt, again aiming to exempt Idaho from Daylight Saving Time. It was introduced, printed, and referred, but it ended as Introduced Dead.

Don't Get Too Excited, but Idaho Does Have Something on the Books to Eliminate DST

Even with all those failed tries, Idaho has made some progress here. Technically, there's a law in place that would nix the time change and fall in line with the Federal Government if and when it makes a move.

In 2020, lawmakers passed Senate Bill 1267. Idaho will conform if Congress mandates permanent Daylight Saving Time in a majority of states. Source links: