Daylight Savings Time 2025: When should we turn back our clocks?
As autumn deepens across the United States, people are preparing to turn back the clocks to end daylight saving time.
Unbranded – Lifestyle
Clocks are set to go “backward” across the United States this weekend as daylight savings time draws to a close.
Daylight saving time always begins on the second Sunday in March and ends on the first Sunday in November. 2025 means it starts on March 9th and ends this Sunday, November 2nd at 2am local time.
The time change will take place in 2025, despite calls for Daylight Savings Time to become permanent throughout the year. However, some states and U.S. territories do not observe daylight saving time, while others have passed legislation to end biannual clock changes as soon as federal law allows.
Here’s what you need to know:
What is daylight saving time?
Daylight saving time is the period from March to November when most Americans set their clocks forward one hour. In March, we move our clocks forward to get more sunlight on summer nights. However, the reason they “retreat” in November is to gain more morning sunlight.
Where does Daylight Savings Time not take effect?
According to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), the following states and territories do not observe daylight saving time: This means we use standard time all year round.
- Hawaii
- Arizona (excluding Navajo Nation)
- american samoa
- Guam
- Northern Mariana Islands
- puerto rico
- US Virgin Islands
Some states are preparing bills in case Congress ignores the time change.
An additional 19 states have passed laws eliminating time changes and moving to year-round daylight saving time, according to NCSL. However, these changes would only take effect if the U.S. Congress passes a federal law authorizing such a move.
And changes in Congress may be a long way off.
On Tuesday, Oct. 28, a bill to make daylight saving time permanent stalled in the Senate after Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Arkansas, said he opposed any effort to rush the bill, Reuters reported.
According to NCSL, the 19 states scheduled to make daylight saving time permanent (pending action from Congress) include:
- 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
Contributor: Reuters; Emily Vetter, Julia Gomez, Kinsey Crowley, USA TODAY
Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Contact us at fernando.cervantes@gannett.com and follow us at X @fern_cerv_.
