Time for change? Locals react to the push to remove daylight savings in North Dakota

BISMARCK, N.D. — Lawmakers in the North Dakota House have passed Bill 1259 that could make the state the third in the nation to permanently observe standard time, eliminating daylight saving time.

Arizona and Hawaii are the only states that already observe standard time year-round, and if the bill becomes law, North Dakota would join them.

The bill has sparked mixed reactions from residents, especially in Fargo-Moorhead, where the change would have a noticeable impact on daily life. According to Representative Dan Ruby, a co-sponsor of the bill, the benefits of no longer switching the clocks twice a year outweigh the potential disruptions.

“It’s maybe not preferable for the time that I would like to be on, as many other people would, but it is the advantage of not having to disrupt our lives twice a year. It kind of outweighs that,” Ruby said.

However, students at Minnesota State University Moorhead (MSUM) have expressed concerns about the potential confusion. “It is just one hour, but it’s the mental, cognitive load to remembering that time difference in terms of planning on two different time schedules is going to be a little bit of an annoyance,” said Tony Urbanski, an MSUM student.

Some residents also worry about the complications along the North Dakota-Minnesota border. If the bill passes, residents in North Dakota would permanently observe standard time, while neighboring Minnesota would continue to follow daylight saving time. “If I lived in Moorhead, and worked in Fargo, my clock would fall back an hour when I cross the state line getting to work… for six months out of the year, and vice versa,” said one Fargo resident.

Others, like former State Senator Tim Flakoll, don’t see the value in the change. “I just don’t see the value in it from my perspective… I think a lot more people want to be out in the evening doing things than they care about being up at 4:30 or 5:30 in the morning to get things done,” he said.

Meanwhile, MSUM students voiced concerns about missing classes or flights due to the time change. “I think that would cause people a lot of trouble, especially since the Hector International is, is over there. I mean, I always fly through there… I could definitely see myself missing a flight because of that,” said Aiden Price, an MSUM student.

Ruby acknowledged the confusion but emphasized that the change would simplify life overall. “He had voted no on the bill on the floor, and said, ‘You know, I think I voted wrong, because I’m kind of thinking that in the spring, kids would be getting on the school bus with more light when, when that switches, it moves back, and kind of puts them back into darkness for a while when they’re going to school,’” Ruby said.

As of now, the bill has passed in the House and is set to be discussed in the Senate, where Ruby will be gauging support in the coming future.