Sun sets on House bill to make year-round daylight saving time

"How do we figure out how we observe time?"

Rep. Rick Tillis, R-Lewisburg, rhetorically posed the question Wednesday, while presenting his legislation that would stop Tennessee from observing daylight saving time.

Under a new version of the measure, the entire state would be in Eastern Standard Time, Tillis told the House State Government Subcommittee.

Tillis said the change was necessary after a legal analysis determined the original legislation would have flaunted federal law.

"The bill basically is asking that the federal government put us on daylight saving time hours year round, which is actually Eastern Standard Time," he said.

More: Tennessee lawmakers wants daylight saving time year-round

Tillis said his proposal came after he initiated an online poll surveying Tennesseans about the idea. He pointed out as recently as last week lawmakers in the Florida house approved a plan to observe daylight saving time year round.

At one point, Rep. Bud Hulsey, R-Kingsport, said he objected to the legislation because the change would limit the hours he could ride his motorcycle before the sun sets. Hulsey said East Tennesseans would be negatively impacted by the measure.

The subcommittee voted 2-2 on the measure — Rep. Mary Littleton, R-Dickson — was not present for the meeting, resulting in the bill failing to gain adequate support to move forward.

Reach Joel Ebert at jebert@tennessean.com or 615-772-1681 and on Twitter @joelebert29.