In advance of the January 9 General Legislative Session, Republican state Rep. Johnny Rye (Trumann), has filed House Bill 1039 that would permanently adopt Daylight Saving Time in Arkansas.
“If passed it will still be daylight at 5 p.m. instead of right now, where it’s dark,” Rye said. “It makes it safer for mothers to get where they are going. I want people to get home safely.”
The federal government must first allow the change, and neighboring states must pass their own daylight saving time measures, as well, before HB1039 would be in place.
“The way we are going to pass this bill is that every state surrounding Arkansas has to adopt daylight saving Time as well,” Rye said. “Until that happens, Arkansas will remain on normal time.”