Bill that would keep New Mexico on daylight saving time year round passes Senate

A bill that would keep New Mexico on mountain daylight time throughout the year passed the senate on Thursday 25 to 17. If this bill were to get signed into law, that would mean Southern New Mexico would be on a different time than El Paso four months out of the year.

Many Las Crucens seemed to be in support of staying on one time throughout the whole year.

“I do think Daylight saving should be the same because during the winter it gets dark really early and usually people aren’t even up yet, like early in the morning,” said Danny, a Las Cruces Resident.

” A lot of retirees here, we don’t want to think,” said Pohdan Kebuz.

However, Danny re-thought his answer when considering El Paso would be in a different time zone.

“I think if it happens in New Mexico it wouldn’t work with the people in this area specifically. Just due to El Paso being so close,” he said.

The bill would be particularly concerning for those living in Anthony, Texas or New Mexico. One resident was not fully board with the potential change.

” So I feel like it would kind be like Phoenix and us so.. I don’t know, like the sun would go down at the same time, but I feel like it would just be.. It would throw a lot of people off.”

The time difference could do more than just create a hassle for commuters. An article from The El Paso Times says that if El Paso were in a different time zone than southern New Mexico, it would result in a loss of $50,000,000 of spendable income, since there would be a loss of trade between El Paso and New Mexico.

It’s also important to note that there is a competing bill that has passed in the House of Representatives in New Mexico that would keep the state on standard time. The House and Senate would have to decide whether daylight or standard time is better suited for New Mexico before it makes it to Governor Lujan-Grisham.