BISMARCK, ND (KXNET) — A proposal to put North Dakota on permanent Daylight Saving Time has failed in the North Dakota Senate.

House Bill 1259, revised by the sponsors and amended in the Senate, failed to pass April 7 on a vote of 15 to 32.

On January 28, it passed the House 55-37.

Following a hearing March 27 in the Senate State and Local Government Committee, the bill was revised in an effort to address concerns from lawmakers and state residents testifying on the legislation.

Opposition to the bill was strong among border communities like Grand Forks, Fargo and cities along the western border. Those who testified said the hour difference between North Dakota and border states that would be created by the bill would result in unwieldy scheduling issues for businesses, families and anyone whose lives involved cross-border activity.

Amendments to the bill resulted in proposed legislation that would switch North Dakota to permanent Daylight Saving Time instead of the original Standard Time switch. And it made the switch conditional on 1) Congress allowing states to switch to permanent Daylight Saving Time, and 2) Minnesota, Montana and South Dakota switching to permanent Daylight Saving Time.

On April 4, the Senate State and Local Government Committee gave the revised bill a “do pass” recommendation.

But for many lawmakers, the revised bill would change nothing for the foreseeable future, rendering it meaningless to the current Legislature.

During discussion on the bill before the Senate vote on April 7, District 47 Senator Michael Dwyer said the bill’s requirements might not happen for another 20 years.

“I’d recommend we just leave it up to the Legislature then to act on this, and we give this bill a red vote,” Dwyer said.

The full Senate agreed and killed the bill, 15 to 32.

Time in North Dakota, for now, will remain as is.

Just a reminder: We turn the clocks back an hour on November 2 this year, leaving Daylight Saving Time and returning to Standard Time.

Until March 8, 2026, when DST returns.

The rejected revised bill is below: