Alaska 34th Alaska State Legislature Status: Passed Senate Bipartisan · 4 R · 4 D cosponsors

SB 26 — An Act petitioning the United States Department of Transportation to change the time zones of Alaska; exempting the state from daylight saving time; and providing for an effective date.

Last action — (H) <Bill Hearing Canceled> -- Delayed to a Call of the Chair --

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed House
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has passed the Senate. Introduced January 22, 2025. It now moves to the second chamber.

Next likely step: consideration and a floor vote in the House.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 74% · high confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

Moderate

How often bills like it became law.

  • Passed Senate

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 8 sponsors

    1 primary, 7 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (4 R · 4 D) — cross-party backing.

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 1 recorded vote so far.

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

In plain language

The bill petitions to exempt Alaska from daylight saving time and change its time zones.

This bill seeks to keep Alaska on standard time year-round by exempting it from daylight saving time. It also requests the U.S. Department of Transportation to change part of Alaska's time zone to Pacific Standard Time.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

19 added · 24 removed

Plain-language change summary

The amendment to SB 26 has changed the scope of the bill, now petitioning to move the entire state of Alaska into the Pacific Standard Time zone, rather than just the eastern portion. This change matters because it indicates a desire for a uniform time across the entire state, which could simplify scheduling and communication for residents, businesses, and travelers. Additionally, the new version sets a deadline of January 1, 2035, for the United States Department of Transportation to act, reflecting an extended timeframe for potential changes to take place.

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34-LS0267\H HOUSE CS FOR SENATE BILL NO.
34-LS0267\A SENATE BILL NO.
26(STA) IN THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA THIRTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE - SECOND SESSION BY THE HOUSE STATE AFFAIRS COMMITTEE Referred:
26 IN THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA THIRTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE - SECOND SESSION BY SENATORS MERRICK, Giessel, Dunbar, Gray-Jackson, Wielechowski REPRESENTATIVES Foster, Bynum, Vance Introduced:
Finance Sponsor(s):
1/22/25 Referred:
SENATORS MERRICK, Giessel, Dunbar, Gray-Jackson, Wielechowski REPRESENTATIVES Foster, Bynum, Vance A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED "An Act petitioning the United States Department of Transportation to change the time zones of Alaska;
Community and Regional Affairs, State Affairs A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED "An Act petitioning the United States Department of Transportation to change the time zones of Alaska;
PETITION TO THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO CHANGE THE TIME ZONES IN WHICH ALASKA IS LOCATED.
PETITION TO THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION SB0026A -1- SB 26 New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] 34-LS0267\A TO CHANGE THE TIME ZONE IN WHICH ALASKA IS LOCATED.
The legislature, by SB0026b -1- HCS SB 26(STA) New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] 34-LS0267\H this Act, petitions the United States Department of Transportation to initiate proceedings under the Uniform Time Act of 1966 to place all of the state east of longitude -155.00 W, with minor variations as requested by proximate communities, within the Pacific Standard Time zone as provided in the United States Department of Transportation's "Procedure for Moving an Area from One Time Zone to Another." * Sec.
The legislature, by this Act, petitions the United States Department of Transportation to initiate proceedings under the Uniform Time Act of 1966 to place all of the state within the Pacific Standard Time zone as provided in the United States Department of Transportation's "Procedure for Moving an Area from One Time Zone to Another." * Sec.
CONDITIONAL REPEAL.
CONDITIONAL EFFECT OF SECTION 1 OF THIS ACT.
Section 2 of this Act is repealed if the United States Department of Transportation does not place all of the state east of longitude -155.00 W, with minor variations as requested by proximate communities, within the Pacific Standard Time zone by January 1, 2028.
Section 1 of this Act takes effect only if the United States Department of Transportation places all of the state within the Pacific Standard Time zone on or before January 1, 2035.
Section 1 of this Act takes effect on the earlier of the following:
If sec.
(1) the date on which the United States Department of Transportation places all of the state east of longitude -155.00 W, with minor variations as requested by proximate communities, within the Pacific Standard Time zone;
1 of this Act takes effect, it takes effect on the effective date of the placement of all of the state within the Pacific Standard Time zone.
(2) March 11, 2028.
SB 26 -2- SB0026A New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]
HCS SB 26(STA) -2- SB0026b New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]
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How this bill changes current law

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AI-generated reading aid from the bill's amendatory text — verify against the official bill.

The bill exempts Alaska from daylight saving time and petitions for a change in the state's time zones.

  • AS 44.12

    Sec. 44.12.400. Exemption from daylight saving time. The state exempts itself from observation of advanced time, also known as daylight saving time, during the period set under 15 U.S.C. 260a for the advancement of time each calendar year, and the entire state shall observe the standard time that is otherwise applicable during that period.

    This establishes an exemption for Alaska from daylight saving time.

  • PETITION TO THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO CHANGE THE TIME ZONES IN WHICH ALASKA IS LOCATED. The legislature, by this Act, petitions the United States Department of Transportation to initiate proceedings under the Uniform Time Act of 1966 to place all of the state east of longitude -155.00 W, with minor variations as requested by proximate communities, within the Pacific Standard Time zone as provided in the United States Department of Transportation's 'Procedure for Moving an Area from One Time Zone to Another.'

    This section directs the legislature to petition for a change in time zones for parts of Alaska.

  • CONDITIONAL REPEAL. Section 2 of this Act is repealed if the United States Department of Transportation does not place all of the state east of longitude -155.00 W, with minor variations as requested by proximate communities, within the Pacific Standard Time zone by January 1, 2028.

    This establishes a conditional repeal of the petition if the time zone change is not made by the specified date.

  • Section 2 of this Act takes effect immediately under AS 01.10.070(c).

    This specifies that the petitioning section becomes effective immediately.

  • Section 1 of this Act takes effect on the earlier of the following: (1) the date on which the United States Department of Transportation places all of the state east of longitude -155.00 W, with minor variations as requested by proximate communities, within the Pacific Standard Time zone; (2) March 11, 2028.

    This defines the effective date for the daylight saving time exemption based on federal action.

Action History

  1. (H) <Bill Hearing Canceled> -- Delayed to a Call of the Chair --

  2. (H) FINANCE at 09:00 AM ADAMS 519

  3. (H) Scheduled but Not Heard -- Delayed to 7:55 pm --

  4. (H) FINANCE at 06:00 PM ADAMS 519

  5. (H) Scheduled but Not Heard -- Delayed to a Call of the Chair --

  6. (H) FINANCE at 01:30 PM ADAMS 519

  7. (H) Scheduled but Not Heard -- Recessed to a Call of the Chair --

  8. (H) FINANCE at 09:00 AM ADAMS 519

  9. (H) REFERRED TO FINANCE

  10. (H) FN2: ZERO(GOV/COMBINED)

  11. (H) AM: VANCE, ST. CLAIR, HIMSCHOOT

  12. (H) NR: MCCABE, STORY, CARRICK

  13. (H) DP: HOLLAND

  14. (H) STA RPT HCS(STA) 1DP 3NR 3AM

  15. (H) Moved HCS SB 26(STA) Out of Committee -- Testimony <Invitation Only> --

  16. (H) STATE AFFAIRS at 03:15 PM GRUENBERG 120

  17. (H) Heard & Held

  18. (H) STATE AFFAIRS at 03:15 PM GRUENBERG 120

  19. (H) CROSS SPONSOR(S): VANCE

  20. (H) Heard & Held

  21. (H) STATE AFFAIRS at 03:15 PM GRUENBERG 120

  22. (H) CROSS SPONSOR(S): BYNUM

  23. (H) CROSS SPONSOR(S): FOSTER

  24. (H) STA, FIN

  25. (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS

  26. (S) VERSION: SB 26

  27. (S) TRANSMITTED TO (H)

  28. (S) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) SAME AS PASSAGE

  29. (S) PASSED Y18 N2

  30. (S) READ THE THIRD TIME SB 26

  31. (S) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING 5/12 CAL

  32. (S) READ THE SECOND TIME

  33. (S) RULES TO CALENDAR 5/9/2025

  34. (S) FN1: ZERO(GOV/COMBINED)

  35. (S) NR: GRAY-JACKSON

  36. (S) DP: KAWASAKI, BJORKMAN

  37. (S) STA RPT 2DP 1NR

  38. (S) Minutes (SSTA)

  39. (S) Moved SB 26 Out of Committee

  40. (S) STATE AFFAIRS at 03:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)

  41. (S) Minutes (SSTA)

  42. (S) Heard & Held

  43. (S) STATE AFFAIRS at 03:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)

  44. (S) FN1: ZERO(GOV/COMBINED)

  45. (S) NR: YUNDT

  46. (S) DP: MERRICK, DUNBAR, GRAY-JACKSON

  47. (S) CRA RPT 3DP 1NR

  48. (S) Minutes (SCRA)

  49. (S) Moved SB 26 Out of Committee

  50. (S) COMMUNITY & REGIONAL AFFAIRS at 01:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)

  51. (S) Minutes (SCRA)

  52. (S) Heard & Held

  53. (S) COMMUNITY & REGIONAL AFFAIRS at 01:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)

  54. (S) Minutes (SCRA)

  55. (S) <Bill Hearing Canceled>

  56. (S) COMMUNITY & REGIONAL AFFAIRS at 01:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)

  57. (S) COSPONSOR(S): GIESSEL, DUNBAR, GRAY-JACKSON, WIELECHOWSKI

  58. (S) CRA, STA

  59. (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS

  60. (S) Prefile released 1/10/25

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 7 co-sponsors · 57 not signed on · 2 voted No

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (7)

Not signed on (57)

57 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 57 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

Third Reading - Final Passage — Effective Date(s)

Passed 18 Yea · 2 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
R 7200
D 9000
Unaffiliated 2000
Total 18200
% of votes cast 90%10%0%0%
How each member voted (20)
Member Party Vote
Shelley Hughes — Yea
Mike Shower — Yea
Bill Wielechowski D Yea
Donald Olson D Yea
Elvi Gray-Jackson D Yea
Forrest Dunbar D Yea
Jesse Kiehl D Yea
Lyman Hoffman D Yea
Löki Tobin D Yea
Matt Claman D Yea
Scott Kawasaki D Yea
Bert Stedman R Nay
Cathy Giessel R Yea
Gary Stevens R Yea
James Kaufman R Yea
Jesse Bjorkman R Yea
Kelly Merrick R Yea
Mike Cronk R Yea
Robert Myers R Nay
Robert Yundt R Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

public-safety transportation technology
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors SB 26?
SB 26 is sponsored by Sarah Vance (R), Jeremy Bynum (R), Neal Foster (D), Bill Wielechowski (D), Elvi Gray-Jackson (D), Forrest Dunbar (D), Cathy Giessel (R), and Kelly Merrick (R).
What is the current status of SB 26?
This bill has passed the Senate. Introduced January 22, 2025. It now moves to the second chamber.
Where can I track SB 26?
Track SB 26 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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