Ohioans may no longer have to set their clocks an hour forward and back every year.

This week, Ohio Senators Kristina Roegner, R-Hudson, and Bob Peterson, R-Sabina, introduced Senate Bill 119, also known as the Ohio Sunshine Protection Act.

If the measure passes, the state would permanently stay in daylight saving time, which would eliminate the need for residents to reset their clocks twice a year.

The bill would also prevent public agencies and local government from opting out of the plan.

Some countries use daylight saving time to make better use of later daylight and conserve electricity, according to timeanddate.com.

Currently, Ohio and 47 other states, recognize daylight saving time, which begins the second Sunday of March and ends the first Sunday in November. Residents move clocks an hour forward in March and then back an hour in November. Arizona and Hawaii are the only states that do not observe daylight saving time.

The idea came after a friend in a social media post talked about proposals being made in other states, Roegner said.

"After I saw the post, I decided to do research of my own," she said.

In a prepared memorandum, Roegner cited studies about the negative impact of daylight saving time, such as the increase of fatal automobile accidents, decrease in work productivity and the increase of workplace injuries.

"Those same researchers concluded that 'schedule changes, such as those involved in switches to and from Daylight Saving Time, place employees in clear and present danger'," Roegner said in a prepared statement.

After reading academic journals, she reached out to her followers on Facebook about how they felt about the possible change. The reactions were mainly positive, Roegner said.

"I was really shocked to see so much support," she said.

The bill is part of a nationwide push from other lawmakers to make daylight saving time permanent. Republican U.S. Senators Marco Rubio and Rick Scott, both of Florida, and Rep. Vern Buchanan introduced in early March the Sunshine Protection Act, which would make daylight saving time permanent across the country.

President Donald Trump supported the idea in a March 11 tweet.

"Making Daylight Saving Time permanent is O.K. with me!" Trump tweeted.

Brandon Bounds can be reached at 330-996-3762 or bbounds@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow Bounds on Twitter at brandonbounds_.