Sunshine Protection Act Tries to Change Florida’s Clock.

 

Three Florida lawmakers are trying to make daylight saving time a year round affair with the “Sunshine Protection Act”.

If the act passes, it would mean that Floridians would no longer have to turn the clock back an hour in the fall. That also means darker mornings, and brighter mornings between November and March.

Senator Rubio has stated that if the act were to pass, it would help our state’s agricultural economy, reduce traffic crashes, and boost health as there would be more time in the day to work out.

This isn’t the first time the trio of Rubio, senator Scott, and rep. Vern Buchanan have tried to get this bill to pass. A successful campaign came with the bill back in 2017, but it fell short of getting the rest of Washington’s approval.

Furthermore, Florida, as well of the rest of the nation, will be joining Hawaii and most of Arizona as the only states exempted from the Uniform time act of 1966.

Reactions to the bill have been mixed. The Florida Parent-Teacher Association are opposed to the bill because it would force students to walk to school or wait for the bus in the dark.

“I’d prefer it. I like getting up and going to school school when it’s dark out. It makes me feel like there’s so much time in the day,” junior Alex Ruotolo said.

Senator Scott also believes that the act would help drive tourism, as the extra daylight would help residents and visitors “enjoy everything our beautiful state has to offer later in the day”.