As the 2023 New Mexico Legislative Session is well past half way and starting to wind down, it’s unclear how or even if one of two competing bills, SB 191 and SB 287, will reach Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham’s desk for approval.
Both of the bills propose eliminating annual time changes for Daylight Savings Time.
NM Senator Roberto “Bobby” J. Gonzales has sponsored SB 191, which proposes to put the state permanently on Mountain Standard Time (“MST”). The bill is currently stalled in the Senate Health and Public Affairs Committee and may be tracked on the NM Legislature’s website HERE.
NM Senator Cliff R. Pirtle has sponsored SB 287, which proposes to put the state permanently on Mountain Daylight Time (“MDT”). The bill is currently in the Senate Judiciary Committee and may be tracked on the NM Legislature’s website HERE.
As things stand right now, it appears that SB 287 has some momentum and SB 191 is stalled. If one of these bills makes it to the finish line this session, it’s likely to be SB 287 – the one proposing permanent MDT (Daylight Savings Time).
As with most things in life and politics, the public seems split as to which time zone would be preferable; however, it seems clear that most New Mexican’s want to do away with the twice-per-year shifting of the clock – regardless of which time zone prevails!
