Oregon’s tortured years-long debate over whether to end the twice-yearly time changes that irritate so many residents is once again underway in the Legislature this session.

But any potential action by state lawmakers will be postponed for at least an extra year after a daylight saving time bill before the Washington Legislature died in committee last month.

The postponement is unavoidable because any legislation that Oregon passes to “ditch the switch” only will go into effect if both Washington and California also agree to do so. While all hope of Washington reviving its bill appears gone, California’s state Senate passed its own version of a bill Monday, sending it to its other chamber for approval.

But all is not lost for Oregonians who desperately want the state to stop moving forward its clocks by an hour each spring and dialing them back by an hour each fall. If the Oregon Legislature agrees this session that it’s time to “lock the clock,” it gives Washington and California 10 years to follow suit. And if they do, twice-yearly time changes for Oregonians will be a thing of the past.

“How many times have you heard ‘Haven’t we dealt with this issue? Didn’t we deal with this like five years ago?’” Sen. Kim Thatcher, a Keizer Republican, told a Senate committee Tuesday. “‘No.’ Because we were waiting for approval from Congress.”

Thatcher is referring to a 2019 bill approved by the Legislature to make daylight saving time permanent. That bill can’t go into effect unless Congress approves the move.

So now, after at least a decade of introducing bills to either end daylight saving time or standard time in 2015, 2019, 2023 and 2024, Thatcher has introduced Senate Bill 566 and Senate Bill 1038. They call for Oregon to adopt permanent standard time, which it can do without congressional approval.

Supporters say moving to permanent standard time would eliminate the twice-yearly time changes that mess with Oregonians’ circadian rhythms. Many sleep experts say permanent standard time — and not permanent daylight saving time — would be healthier for residents. But critics say it’s not a perfect solution because it means in Portland that the sun would rise as early as 4:22 a.m. in June. Sunrise also would occur before 5 a.m. for more than three months each year.

What’s more, the glorious summer evenings that residents cherish, when sunset doesn’t happen until about 9 p.m. — and twilight extends outdoor activities even longer — would be a thing of the past if Oregon moves to permanent standard time.

“Standard time, we can change it but we’re kind of chicken to do it ourselves,” Thatcher said. “So we’re saying if Washington and California do it, we’ll do it.”

This year’s “spring forward” moment from standard time into daylight saving time will happen at 2 a.m. Sunday.

Many Oregonians favor moving to permanent daylight saving time. But aside from the huge hurdle of getting Congress to act, it also would mean the sun wouldn’t rise until as late as 8:52 a.m. in December in Portland. Critics say that’s tough on kids waiting for buses to take them to school.

Momentum for some sort of end to the hourly time changes, however, seems to be building. Multiple states across the nation are considering legislation. Congress is too, as it has for years. But the movement has gained a powerful backer, President Donald Trump, who as president-elect in December posted on Truth Social that the time change was “inconvenient” and “costly.”

One of Thatcher’s bills also says Oregon can switch to permanent daylight saving time — and the 9 p.m. summer sunsets — if that’s what Congress allows. In a nutshell, Thatcher just wants an end to the hourly time changes.

Sen. Dick Anderson, a Lincoln City Republican, told the committee that he supports Oregon moving to permanent standard time, and that it’s important to stop toying with people’s sleep schedules.

“Who here in this room hasn’t changed their clocks back since November?” Anderson asked. “Good news, on Sunday this week you’ll be accurate again. The bad news: You will lose an hour of sleep.”

Summing up the sentiments of many, Anderson added: “This is a twice yearly task that everyone despises.”

Thatcher’s bills would affect all of Oregon except for the sliver in the eastern part that is on Mountain time.