Daylight saving time has sparked persistent discussions in recent years. For more than a century, Americans have been accustomed to the biannual clock changes: moving the clock forward by one hour in March to embrace daylight saving time and resetting it back in November to return to standard time. However, there are notable exceptions, as residents of Hawaii and most of Arizona do not participate in this practice, maintaining standard time throughout the entire year.
The concept of daylight saving time as we recognize it today was established by the 1966 Uniform Time Act. This legislation allowed states to opt out of daylight saving time but required those that chose to observe it to follow a federally mandated schedule. Prior to this law, daylight saving time had been used during World War I as a temporary measure to conserve energy, known then as “war time.” A similar approach was adopted during World War II for the same reason, but the practice was discontinued after the conflict ended.
In recent years, there has been a growing movement among lawmakers to eliminate the practice of changing clocks twice a year. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, more than 450 pieces of legislation were considered across state legislatures by 2022, with many advocating for permanent daylight saving time once federal law permits.
On a national level, the Senate passed the Sunshine Protection Act on March 15, 2022, through unanimous consent. This proposed legislation aims to permanently adopt daylight saving time across the U.S. if it gains approval from the House and the President. It is important to note that states that choose to remain on standard time would not be required to switch.
Public opinion on this issue is divided. A CBS News poll from March 2022 indicated that 46% of Americans favor permanent daylight saving time, while 33% prefer maintaining standard time, and the remaining 21% support the current system.
State Initiatives Toward Permanent Daylight Saving Time
Several states have taken significant steps towards implementing permanent daylight saving time.
Alabama
On April 20, 2021, Alabama’s Senate passed bill SB388 unanimously, permitting the state to permanently observe daylight saving time once Congress amends federal law. This bill was subsequently approved by the state House on May 6, 2021, with a vote of 93-1, and was signed into law by Governor Kay Ivey on May 13, 2021.
Colorado
Colorado Governor Jared Polis signed the Daylight Saving Time Year Round act into law on June 2, 2021. This legislation aims to establish daylight saving time as the standard time in Colorado year-round, contingent upon federal approval and the agreement of at least four other states in the Mountain Standard Time zone.
Delaware
In 2019, Delaware’s legislature passed Senate Bill 73, intending to make daylight saving time permanent by empowering the state’s secretary of transportation to shift Delaware into the Atlantic Standard Time zone, contingent on neighboring states enacting similar laws.
Florida
Florida’s state legislature enacted HB 1013 in 2018, signaling the intent to adopt permanent daylight saving time. However, this change is a trigger law that only takes effect when federal law allows it.
Georgia
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp signed State Senate Bill 100 into law on April 21, 2021, which mandates that the state will observe daylight saving time year-round, pending federal legislation that permits this shift.
Idaho
Idaho’s legislature passed Senate Bill 1267 in March 2020, which will implement permanent daylight saving time statewide, subject to changes in federal law and similar shifts by Washington state.
Louisiana
Governor John Bel Edwards signed legislation in June 2020 to make daylight saving time permanent, contingent upon changes in federal law.
Maine
Maine passed a law in 2019 to adopt permanent daylight saving time, effective once authorized by the federal government.
Minnesota
Minnesota’s bipartisan legislation passed in 2020, mandating the state’s transition to year-round daylight saving time upon federal approval.
Mississippi
The state legislature approved a bill in 2021 to adopt permanent daylight saving time, conditional on federal law changes.
Montana
Montana’s law, passed in 2021, aims to shift to Mountain Daylight Time permanently with federal approval and cooperation from four other states.
Ohio and Oregon
Both states have expressed support for the Sunshine Protection Act, with Ohio urging Congress to pass the legislation and Oregon aiming for a similar transition contingent on federal law.
South Carolina
In 2020, South Carolina made year-round daylight saving time permanent, pending necessary changes at the federal level.
Tennessee
Tennessee passed laws in 2019 that align with the goal of adopting permanent daylight saving time once authorized by the federal government.
Utah and Washington
Both states have introduced laws to establish permanent daylight saving time, contingent on federal approval and cooperation among western states.
Wyoming
Wyoming’s legislature passed a bill in 2020 to adopt Mountain Daylight Time permanently, requiring not less than four other states to make the same change.
As states increasingly express a desire to abolish the biannual clock changes, the conversation around daylight saving time continues to evolve, highlighting the need for federal legislation that addresses these concerns.
Source : https://whnt.com/news/alabama-news/alabama-tennessee-among-states-looking-to-end-daylight-saving-time-changes/