What You Need To Know
- Sunshine Act passed in the U.S. Senate in 2022
- Current time change rules have been in place since 2007
- Arizona and Hawaii remain on standard time year round
Why we change the clocks twice a year
The United States began the concept of daylight saving time in 1918, during World War I, to save fuel. By advancing one hour ahead, coal-fired energy would assist the war effort rather than that hour at home.
Standard time returned following the war and continued until World War II. After World War II, some states and even cities kept daylight saving time, creating various time zones within regions. Frustrated with no uniform time, the public pushed Congress to pass the Uniform Time Act in 1966.
This established the time frame that daylight saving time would begin the last Sunday in April and end the last Sunday in October. In 1987, it extended to include the first Sunday in April and end on the last Sunday in October. Part of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, the modern daylight saving time begins on the second Sunday in March and ends on the first Sunday in November. This current time shift began in 2007.
Not everyone participates
Hawaii doesn’t participate because of its location. With not much variation throughout the year between sunrise and sunset, it made little sense to switch the clocks. Only the Navajo Nation in Arizona observes daylight saving time. The rest of the state exempted itself in 1968. They cited the heat as their reason for opting out, adding that if they switched the clocks ahead one hour, the sun would not set until 9 p.m. in the summer, limiting nighttime activities.
Current legislation
The Department of Transportation oversees daylight saving time and all the country’s time zones. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), Federal law refers to the Uniform Time Act, which was passed in 1966. This law allows a state to exempt itself from observing daylight saving time or staying on standard time year round. However, it does not allow a state to be on permanent daylight saving time.
As of 2024, at least 30 states have considered or are considering legislation or resolutions about Daylight Saving Time. 22 States that have introduced legislation exempting from daylight saving time and staying on standard time year-round. No federal approval will be needed if passed. On the other hand, 20 states have enacted legislation or passed resolutions to provide for year-round daylight saving time, but there are a few caveats. If Congress allows the change and if the surrounding states enact the same legislation.
Sunshine Protection Act
On March 15, 2022, the U.S. Senate voted unanimously in favor of the Sunshine Protection Act, which would make daylight saving time permanent, meaning Americans would no longer have to change their clocks twice a year to account for the time change. While the Senate passed the bill, two and a half years later, it remains stalled in the House and has not been signed into law by President Biden.
The future
For now, legislation to observe daylight saving time year-round remains pending. Other states will continue to perform case studies and collect data to see if this shift is beneficial in saving energy, helping improve health, and reducing crime. And so we will change our clocks back one hour this Saturday night, returning to standard time and then on March 9, 2025, we will move the clocks forward one hour, switching to daylight saving time.
Conclusion
Daylight saving time has been a part of American history since 1918, with the first change being made to save fuel during World War I. Since then, the rules have been changed several times, with the current time change rules in place since 2007. Not everyone participates, with Hawaii and Arizona being the exceptions. The future of daylight saving time remains uncertain, with legislation pending and ongoing debates about the benefits and drawbacks of the practice.
FAQs
Q: Why do we change the clocks twice a year?
A: We change the clocks twice a year to observe daylight saving time, which was first implemented in 1918 to save fuel during World War I.
Q: Why does Hawaii not participate in daylight saving time?
A: Hawaii does not participate in daylight saving time because of its location, with little variation throughout the year between sunrise and sunset.
Q: What is the Sunshine Protection Act?
A: The Sunshine Protection Act is a bill that would make daylight saving time permanent, eliminating the need to change clocks twice a year.
Q: What is the current legislation regarding daylight saving time?
A: The current legislation regarding daylight saving time allows states to exempt themselves from observing daylight saving time or staying on standard time year-round, but does not allow a state to be on permanent daylight saving time.
