Changing your clock twice a year may soon be a thing of the past.
The U.S. House of Representatives is scheduled to vote next week on a bill that would make daylight saving time permanent and end the twice-yearly ritual of “jumping forward” and “stepping back” for millions of Americans.
The Sunshine Protection Act passed the committee on a 48-1 vote and has the support of President Donald Trump, who recently called seasonal clock changes a “ridiculous twice-a-year production.” A similar proposal passed the Senate in 2022, but never became law.
Even if the bill passes, it would also need approval from the U.S. Senate to become law.
What is daylight saving time?
During daylight saving time, which runs from March to November, most Americans set their clocks forward one hour to extend daylight hours into the evening.
Clocks move forward one hour each spring, often referred to as “forwards,” but then return to standard time when Americans “go backwards” in the fall. This switch is designed to provide more daylight in the evening during warmer months and more daylight in the morning during winter.
Do all states use daylight savings time?
No, for example, Hawaii and most of Arizona do not observe daylight saving time, but most states do observe daylight saving time.
It has not been observed in Arizona due to its desert climate. In an interview with Arizona State University, history professor Calvin Schermerhorn said not implementing daylight saving time in the state is the “greener” option.
“Simply put, starting the day earlier rather than later is more environmentally friendly in terms of power usage. Businesses, schools, and vehicles require more energy to cool their spaces,” Schermerhorn said.
The Navajo Nation, which covers parts of Arizona, Utah, and New Mexico, has daylight savings time in place.
The U.S. territories of American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands also do not participate in daylight saving time.
USA TODAY’s Saleen Martin contributed to this report.
Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Contact us at fernando.cervantes@usatodayco.com and follow us at X @fern_cerv_.
