Daylight Savings Time Ends

Despite the reluctance of many Americans to adjust their clocks twice a year, it seems that the tradition of daylight saving time (DST) will persist for the foreseeable future. As of 2023, no significant legislative changes have been made, indicating that we will still "fall back" on Sunday, November 5.

However, federal law currently restricts states from adopting permanent daylight saving time. Despite the introduction of bills like the Sunshine Protection Act, which aims to establish year-round DST, no voting has taken place on these proposed changes in 2023. Although numerous states are considering legislation to eliminate clock changes, the momentum behind this movement has been relatively subdued compared to previous years.

What exactly is the Sunshine Protection Act?

This bill, introduced annually since 2018 by Senator Marco Rubio of Florida, has garnered support from Representative Vern Buchanan (R-FL) who introduced it in the House of Representatives in March 2023. If passed, the Sunshine Protection Act would implement permanent daylight saving time across the entire nation, eliminating the need for any clock changes during the spring and fall.

Nevertheless, certain regions, including Arizona, Hawaii, and U.S. territories, which already adhere to permanent standard time, would be exempt from this law. These states and territories would continue following their existing system of permanent standard time. Additionally, any state that had already adopted permanent standard time before the Sunshine Protection Act was enacted would also be exempt from its provisions.