This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

A committee put the idea of skipping Daylight Saving Time to bed on Tuesday.

A bill to keep Utah on Mountain Standard Time all year, HB65, died on a 4-8 vote in the House Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment Committee.

Rep. Fred Cox, R-West Valley City, its sponsor, noted that two-thirds of 27,000 people surveyed by the state in 2014 preferred that option — one now used by Arizona — so he pushed it forward.

A similar bill had been introduced last year, but never had a hearing. Another bill — to essentially put the state on Daylight Saving Time all year — was also defeated in committee last year.

Rep. Doug Sagers, R-Tooele, said he is tired of hearing bills on the matter each year, which all have died. "It's like 'Groundhog Day' all over again," he said about a movie where the same day keeps repeating.

Cox himself pointed out pros and cons of changing. He said eliminating Daylight Saving Time might increase safety by not forcing children to go to school in the dark in early fall.

But he said using standard time all year shortens the amount of evening sunlight in spring and summer, which may hurt sport leagues and outdoor businesses.

Of course, the change Cox sought is one way to stop "falling back" an hour in autumn and also "springing forward" in spring. Cox said he hears from many people that the two changes create "a sort of jet lag" for them and makes it hard for many to physically adjust.

Numerous legislators said that changing the system often is the top topic that constituents raise with them.

It was such a hot topic in 2014 when the state created a web site with questions on the issue that 27,000 people responded to multiple-choice questions. Also, 13,000 left written responses that were often lengthy and passionate. They submitted 574,000 words, nearly the number of words in the novel "War and Peace."

As a reminder, Utah switches to Daylight Saving Time on Sunday, March 13 — when residents "spring forward" an hour, and lose an hour of sleep.