A move to put all of Florida in the same time zone, while following daylight saving time throughout the year, got the backing of a Senate committee on Tuesday.
But even if the proposal receives approval from the full Legislature, the U.S. Department of Transportation and Congress would both have to act for the changes to occur.
The Senate Community Affairs Committee voted in favor of the proposal, which seeks to put Panhandle counties in the same time zone as the rest of the state and for Florida to observe daylight saving time all year. Much of the Panhandle is now in the Central time zone, while the rest of the state is in the Eastern time zone.
Sen. Greg Steube, a Sarasota Republican who is sponsoring the proposal, initially sought to have the state exempted from daylight-saving time and observe standard time throughout the year. But an amendment Tuesday moved the bill closer to a House version, which seeks year-round daylight saving time.
Sooo...what do you think about that? I'm personally ok with it. Fun fact: The flip back and forth from Standard to Daylight Saving time was initially for the benefit of farmers. The clock was altered during the months of the year when days are shorter and the sun sets earlier, to allow for a more productive workday.
Here's the thing. If you're a farmer (my grandpa was, and my aunt, uncle, and cousin all are), you get up when you need to get up, regardless of what the clock says, or whether or not the sun is up yet. There's not really a choice. Work has to be done, animals have to be fed...so in this day and age, it seems silly to still hang onto that practice.
Plus, there are some states that observe the time change, and others that don't. If we could all just get on the same page so I know what freaking time it is (Arizona, I'm talking to you) that would be great.