Daylight Saving Time is approaching — but some want to change that


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Summary

History of Daylight Saving Time

Several people floated the idea of changing clocks to get more time, but it was only with the Uniform Time Act of 1966 that Daylight Saving Time (DST) became a legal requirement.

How do people feel about DST?

A recent Gallup poll found that more than half, or 54%, of American adults want to see an end to Daylight Saving Time.

Some states trying to end DST

In 2025, 35 states considered, or were considering, bills or resolutions on Daylight Saving Time. However, these would need congressional approval — if they even pass the legislature.


Full story

There are only a few months until the end of the year — and the end of Daylight Saving Time (DST) is also quickly approaching. Clocks will be set back one hour at 2 a.m. Nov. 2, which means we’ll “gain” an extra hour.

Of course, just a few months later, on March 8, 2026, we set our clocks ahead by one hour, thus resetting the cycle.

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Daylight Saving Time became a legal requirement as part of the Uniform Time Act of 1966. However, the idea behind it has been around for much longer.

New Zealand entomologist George Hudson in 1895 proposed moving clocks forward in spring, so the sun would rise later and shine longer in the evening, giving him more time to hunt bugs. British activist William Willett also suggested this, and took the idea to members of the English Parliament in the early 1900s, National Geographic wrote. During the last year of World War I, the U.S. adopted the Standard Time Act of 1918, which aimed to save fuel by extending daylight working hours.

Now, DST is observed everywhere in the United States, barring some territories: Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands and two states: Hawaii and most of Arizona. Arizona opted out because of its desert climate, while Hawaii is close to the equator, meaning it gets sunlight throughout the day, despite the season, CBS News reported.

Push to end Daylight Saving Time

Still, not everyone is happy with the system: there’s been legislation introduced at the state and national levels to end DST for years now. A recent Gallup poll found 54% of U.S. adults want to see that happen.

State legislatures in particular have seen over  750 bills and resolutions to stop the time-switching when federal law allows it, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL). Much of the debate surrounds whether to enact permanent standard time or daylight saving time. 

While every state has considered multiple time zone bills, Florida in 2018 became the first to enact legislation to permanently observe DST — if an amendment to federal law would allow it. 

Since then, 19 other states enacted legislation for a year-round daylight saving time, though Congress would have to act before states made the change, 

These states, per the NCSL, are: Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado, Alabama, Georgia, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Idaho, Louisiana, South Carolina, Utah, Wyoming, Delaware, Maine, Oregon (Pacific Time Zone only), Tennessee, Washington and Florida. 

In 2025, 35 states have considered, or are currently considering bills or resolutions on DST. 

These are: Alaska, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota and Texas. 

Of the eight bills proposed in Texas this year, one was enacted: House Bill 1393, sponsored by state Rep. Will Metcalf, a Republican. It still needs congressional approval, however.

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Why this story matters

Changes to Daylight Saving Time affect how Americans experience daily life, with ongoing legislative efforts and public debate highlighting differing views about the system's future and impact on states, businesses and individuals.

Legislative action

Numerous bills have been introduced at both state and federal levels seeking to end or alter Daylight Saving Time, which reflects active policymaking and ongoing debate about standardizing time nationwide.

Public opinion

According to a recent Gallup poll cited in the article, a majority of U.S. adults want to eliminate Daylight Saving Time, indicating strong public sentiment that could influence future legislative changes.

Regional differences

States and territories experience Daylight Saving Time differently, with some, like Arizona and Hawaii, opting out due to climate and geography; this highlights how local factors shape views on national policies.

SAN provides
Unbiased. Straight Facts.

Don’t just take our word for it.


Certified balanced reporting

According to media bias experts at AllSides

AllSides Certified Balanced May 2025

Transparent and credible

Awarded a perfect reliability rating from NewsGuard

100/100

Welcome back to trustworthy journalism.

Find out more

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