As every year in the United States, Daylight Saving Time has been implemented and has once again generated a heated debate about whether it is necessary or not. After October 31, many are wondering if it will be the last time this change will occur; well this could definitely change.
For those who think it is unnecessary, as of today Daylight Saving Time is still mandated at the federal level by the U.S. government, governed by the Uniform Time Act of 1966, to “promote the adoption and observance of uniform time within the standard time zones” prescribed by the Standard Time Act of 1918.
Some states in the U.S. have passed bills to avoid having to comply with federal law. That said, if there is to be a meaningful change, the law will have to be changed at the federal level.
Which states follow Daylight Saving Time in the United States?
Most states comply with federal law, but there are some areas of the country where it is not observed. The U.S. territories Guam, American Samoa, Puerto Rico, Northern Mariana Islands and the U.S. Virgin Islands do not observe daylight saving time, but since they are not part of the continental United States, this is not a problem.
Hawaii does not observe it either, but, although it is an official part of the country, it is also an island and, therefore, does not represent a major inconvenience.
The problem begins in Arizona, which is part of the continental United States and is also divided in terms of law enforcement. The Navajo Nation in northern Arizona does follow daylight saving time, but the rest of the state does not.
Currently, 19 states in total, including Alabama, Colorado, Delaware, Louisiana, Utah and Oregon, have passed Daylight Saving Time-related bills, and many more may begin to do so in the next few years.
The “Sunshine Protection Act” introduced in 2018 seeks to keep the country on daylight saving time would reduce the risk of seasonal depression, reduce theft and other crimes, benefit the agricultural world and reduce energy consumption, among other benefits.
The bill had enough support for the U.S. Congress to introduce it and pass it unanimously in 2022, but it was never signed by the U.S. House of Representatives or President Joe Biden, stalling its process and killing its implementation.
This means that, for now, the situation will remain as it is and Daylight Saving Time will start again on Sunday, March 9, 2025. The drawbacks of this change may be outweighed by the benefits.