19 States Are Ready to End Time Change—But There's a Catch
Clocks fell back this weekend. Daylight saving time ended on Sunday, November 2 at 2 a.m. local time. The same thing happens every year. The second Sunday of March it starts and the first Sunday of November it ends. We have been doing this dance since 1966.
Despite calls to make daylight saving time permanent, the time change is still happening in 2025. Some states don't observe it at all. Others have passed laws to end the clock change. But there's a catch.
March through November, most Americans set clocks forward one hour. We spring forward to get more daylight in summer evenings. We fall back in November to add more daylight in mornings.
However, it disrupts sleep patterns, increases car accidents, and generally messes with people's lives twice a year for questionable benefits.
Where it Doesn't Happen
Hawaii doesn't do it. Arizona doesn't either, except for the Navajo Nation. American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands all skip it too.
These places figured out they don't need to mess with clocks to have enough daylight in every season. Everyone else is still stuck.
19 States Have Laws Ready to Go
Here's the thing: nineteen states passed laws to end the time change and shift to year-round daylight saving time. Laws are just sitting there ready to implement.
We can’t do anything with them though. They only take effect if Congress passes federal legislation allowing it. Congress hasn't done that and might not do it anytime soon.
On October 28 this year, a bill to make daylight saving time permanent stalled in the Senate. Arkansas Republican Sen. Tom Cotton opposed fast-tracking it. So, it died. Again.
Which States are Waiting
Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado, Alabama, Georgia, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Idaho (Pacific time zone only), Louisiana, South Carolina, Utah, Wyoming, Delaware, Maine, Oregon (Pacific time zone only), Tennessee, Washington, Florida.
That's the list. Nineteen states with legislation ready. All waiting for Congress.
Pretty diverse mix geographically and politically. Ending the time change isn't partisan. People across the spectrum are tired of it.
Why Congress Won't Act
The Sunshine Protection Act has been introduced multiple times. It passed the Senate unanimously in 2022 but died in the House. Politics and bureaucracy got in the way.
Some lawmakers want permanent standard time instead of permanent daylight saving time. Others worry about kids going to school in the dark during winter. Transportation and agriculture industries have opinions. Then there are debates about time zone complications.
There has been lots of talking. Not much doing.
What Permanent DST Would Mean
No more clock changes. Stay on daylight saving time year-round.
More daylight in evenings during winter. Darker mornings, especially in northern states during winter months. And yes, kids going to school in the dark.
The trade-off is no more adjusting clocks and disrupting sleep twice a year. Many people think that's worth it.
The Other Option
Some prefer permanent standard time. Stay on standard time year-round, no changes.
More daylight in winter mornings. Less in summer evenings. Also eliminates the twice-yearly disruption.
Hawaii and Arizona do this already and it works fine for them.
When this Might Actually Change
It could be years or it could be never. Congress moves slowly. This isn't a priority for politicians and it doesn't seem to be picking up any steam from citizen backed movements either. The Senate bill stalling in October doesn't help matters.
Meanwhile those 19 states sit with legislation ready. They've done their part. Congress is the holdup.
What Happens Now
Changing your clocks happens again in spring 2026 when time springs forward on March 8. Until Congress acts, the time changes continue.
Most Americans want to stop changing clocks and polls show this consistently. There is a split on whether to stick with standard time or daylight saving time, but they agree the switching needs to stop.
Nineteen states want to end the time change. There are passed laws ready to implement permanent daylight saving time but we can't do anything until Congress passes federal legislation.
Americans in most states will keep changing clocks twice a year and maybe Congress will act someday. Until then, remember to keep changing your clocks.