The future of daylight saving time remains uncertain as legislative efforts to end the biannual clock changes continue to stall in Congress. A 2022 proposal aimed at making daylight saving time permanent cleared a significant hurdle but has since been left languishing in committee for over a year. Without further action, Americans will again “fall back” this November, setting their clocks one hour behind, only to move them forward next March.
Where the Bill Stands
The 2022 measure sought to eliminate the need for the twice-yearly clock change by establishing permanent daylight saving time. If passed, Americans would have adjusted their clocks one hour forward in March and kept them that way year-round. However, despite some momentum, the bill has stalled as lawmakers struggle to reach a consensus.
Congressman Frank Pallone, who chaired the Energy and Commerce Committee in 2022, explained the hesitation: “We don’t want to rush into a change only to reverse it in a few years if public opinion turns against it—similar to what happened in the 1970s.” The U.S. experimented with year-round daylight saving time during that period, but it was quickly reversed following public backlash.
A Long-Running Debate
The debate over daylight saving time is not new. The last significant change to the practice occurred in 2007 when new rules were implemented to extend daylight saving time by about a month, in an effort to reduce energy consumption. Currently, daylight saving time lasts for 238 days of the year.
While 80% of Americans support ending the clock-changing tradition, according to a CBS News/YouGov poll from 2022, there is disagreement on what the alternative should be. Forty-six percent favor permanent daylight saving time (more daylight in the evenings), while 33% prefer a return to standard time (more daylight in the mornings). The back-and-forth of “springing forward” and “falling back” disrupts sleep patterns, with some studies linking it to negative mental health impacts. According to a poll by the American Psychiatric Association, 20% of adults reported that the time change worsens their mental well-being.
Which States Don’t Observe Daylight Saving Time?
Daylight saving time is not observed in Hawaii, most of Arizona, and U.S. territories like American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Northern Mariana Islands. Under the proposed legislation, these states and territories would remain exempt even if daylight saving time becomes permanent across the rest of the country.
Global Perspective
Globally, most countries do not participate in daylight saving time. In Europe, countries that observe “summer time” move their clocks forward on the last Sunday in March. However, the Pew Research Center notes that the majority of the world does not follow this practice, preferring consistent time year-round.
Origins of Daylight Saving Time
Daylight saving time in the U.S. dates back to World War I when it was introduced as a fuel-saving measure. Germany first adopted the practice in 1916, with other nations following suit to conserve energy during the war. In the U.S., it was officially enacted in 1918.
Legislative Efforts to End the Time Change
In recent years, momentum has grown to end the twice-yearly time change. Congressman Vern Buchanan (R-FL), who introduced the latest version of the Sunshine Protection Act in the House, called the current practice “antiquated” and “unnecessary.” Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL), who sponsored the Senate version of the bill, described the practice as “stupid” and introduced a new version for consideration.
Support for the bill spans both parties. Rubio and fellow Republican senators, including Rick Scott (FL), Bill Hagerty (TN), and Rand Paul (KY), have backed the legislation, along with several Democrats, such as Martin Heinrich (NM), Ed Markey (MA), and Ron Wyden (OR).
Despite bipartisan backing, the proposal has yet to move forward. Until then, Americans can expect to set their clocks back by an hour on Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024, marking the end of daylight saving time for the year.
