Fall Back This Weekend: The Ongoing Debate Over Daylight Saving Time
What Happens When Daylight Saving Time Ends?
At 2 a.m. local time on November 3, clocks will roll back to 1 a.m. This means that early risers will enjoy an earlier sunrise, but it also results in earlier sunsets. For instance, in cities like New York, the sunset will shift from 5:50 p.m. on November 2 to 4:49 p.m. the following day.
The Push to End Time Changes
Despite the routine nature of this clock adjustment, it has long been accompanied by calls for its elimination. Currently, all but two U.S. states—Hawaii and most of Arizona—observe Daylight Saving Time. Many states have taken legislative steps to make time changes permanent, while others seek to revert to standard time year-round.
Senator Marco Rubio of Florida has been a vocal advocate for the Sunshine Protection Act, a bill aiming to establish permanent Daylight Saving Time nationwide. Although this legislation passed the Senate in 2022, it has stalled in the House of Representatives amid a complex web of state-level proposals and federal regulations.
“It’s time to lock the clock and stop enduring the ridiculous and antiquated practice of switching our clocks back and forth,” Rubio asserted, echoing the sentiments of many who feel that the biannual time changes are outdated.
The Health Implications of Time Changes
Research indicates that changing the clocks can have adverse effects on health and safety. Erik Herzog, a professor at Washington University in St. Louis, explains that these shifts disrupt our circadian rhythms, the body’s natural internal clock. The springtime transition, which requires us to lose an hour of sleep, has been linked to an increase in heart attacks and car accidents in the days following the change.
However, experts suggest that the solution may not be to adopt permanent Daylight Saving Time, but rather to embrace permanent standard time. Herzog argues that waking with natural sunlight is far healthier than relying on alarm clocks, which is more prevalent in regions observing Daylight Saving Time.
State-Level Movements Toward Permanent Time
While federal law currently prohibits states from unilaterally adopting permanent Daylight Saving Time, many states are preparing for potential changes. As of 2024, Oklahoma has passed legislation allowing for permanent Daylight Saving Time, contingent upon congressional approval. Nineteen other states—including Colorado, Florida, and Washington—have also initiated measures to move towards year-round Daylight Saving Time if permitted.
Interestingly, some states have tied their proposals to agreements with neighboring states. For example, Idaho’s northern region may adopt Daylight Saving Time only if Washington state does the same.
Why Do Arizona and Hawaii Avoid Time Changes?
Arizona and Hawaii have chosen to forgo the practice of changing their clocks entirely. Federal law permits states to keep standard time year-round, which is what these two states have done. This decision allows residents to avoid the disruptions caused by time changes, a sentiment echoed by many Americans across the country.
