Current:Home > ContactDo all Americans observe daylight saving time? Why some states and territories don't. -Edge Finance Strategies
Do all Americans observe daylight saving time? Why some states and territories don't.
View
Date:2025-04-12 08:30:44
Millions of Americans will wake up feeling more refreshed on Sunday thanks to an extra hour of sleep gained from the ending of daylight saving time.
But the twice-annual time change observance, which begins in March and ends in November, is not observed in all U.S. states and territories.
The time change is meant to allow for more daylight in the mornings during the fall and winter and more daylight in the evenings during the spring and summer, as the Northern Hemisphere tilts either toward or farther away from the sun.
Here's what to know about the U.S. states and territories that do not observe daylight saving time.
Video:Watch the top astronomy events for November 2024
Does every state observe daylight saving time?
Not all states and U.S. territories participate in the time change.
If a state chooses to observe daylight saving time, it must begin and end on federally mandated dates, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. Under the Uniform Time Act, which was established in 1966, states can exempt themselves from observing daylight saving time.
Hawaii and most of Arizona do not observe daylight saving time. Because of its desert climate, Arizona doesn't follow daylight saving time (with the exception of the Navajo Nation). After most of the U.S. adopted the Uniform Time Act, the state figured that there wasn't a good reason to adjust clocks to make sunset occur an hour later during the hottest months of the year.
There are also five other U.S. territories that do not participate:
- American Samoa
- Guam
- Northern Mariana Islands
- Puerto Rico
- U.S. Virgin Islands
The Navajo Nation, located in parts of Arizona, Utah, and New Mexico, does follow daylight saving time.
Hawaii is the other state that does not observe daylight saving time. Because of the state's proximity to the equator, there is not a lot of variance between hours of daylight during the year.
When does daylight saving time end in 2024?
Daylight saving time will end for the year at 2 a.m. local time on Sunday, Nov. 3, when we "fall back" and gain an extra hour of sleep.
Next year, it will begin again on Sunday, March 9, 2025.
What is daylight saving time?
Daylight saving time is the time between March and November when most Americans adjust their clocks ahead by one hour.
We gain an hour in November (as opposed to losing an hour in the spring) to make for more daylight in the winter mornings. When we "spring forward" in March, it's to add more daylight in the evenings. In the Northern Hemisphere, the autumnal equinox is Sunday, Sept. 22, marking the start of the fall season.
Is daylight saving time ending?
The push to stop changing clocks was put before Congress in the last couple of years, when the U.S. Senate unanimously approved the Sunshine Protection Act in 2022, a bill to make daylight saving time permanent.
Although the Sunshine Protection Act was passed unanimously by the Senate in 2022, the U.S. House of Representatives did not pass it and President Joe Biden did not sign it.
A 2023 version of the act remained idle in Congress, as well.
In a news release Monday, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio made another push in support of making daylight saving time permanent.
The senator suggested the nation "stop enduring the ridiculous and antiquated practice of switching our clocks back and forth. Let’s finally pass my Sunshine Protection Act and end the need to ‘fall back’ and ‘spring forward’ for good."
Contributing: Natalie Neysa Alund, USA TODAY.
veryGood! (15873)
Related
- Chuck Scarborough signs off: Hoda Kotb, Al Roker tribute legendary New York anchor
- A Nebraska senator who name-checked a colleague while reading about rape is under investigation
- Suspect charged in Indianapolis bar shooting that killed 1 person and injured 5
- Cicadas 2024: This year's broods will make for rare event not seen in over 200 years
- Toyota to invest $922 million to build a new paint facility at its Kentucky complex
- Ex-Saints receiver Michael Thomas entering diversion in case stemming from arrest last fall
- Landmark Peruvian Court Ruling Says the Marañón River Has Legal Rights To Exist, Flow and Be Free From Pollution
- A 'new' star will appear in the night sky in the coming months, NASA says: How to see it
- Who are the most valuable sports franchises? Forbes releases new list of top 50 teams
- Vermont owner of now-defunct firearms training center is arrested
Ranking
- 'Survivor' 47 finale, part one recap: 2 players were sent home. Who's left in the game?
- New 'Ghostbusters' review: 2024 movie doubles down on heroes and horror, but lacks magic
- Grambling State coach Donte' Jackson ready to throw 'whatever' at Zach Edey, Purdue
- Gene Kelly's widow says their nearly 50-year age gap was 'not an issue'
- Highlights from Trump’s interview with Time magazine
- Landmark Peruvian Court Ruling Says the Marañón River Has Legal Rights To Exist, Flow and Be Free From Pollution
- Many Americans want to stop working at 60 and live to 100. Can they afford it?
- A police officer was accused of spying for China. The charges were dropped, but the NYPD fired him
Recommendation
Working Well: When holidays present rude customers, taking breaks and the high road preserve peace
Hands off TikTok: Biden has shown us why government and social media shouldn't mix
Trump suggests he’d support a national ban on abortions around 15 weeks of pregnancy
Paris 2024 organizers to provide at least 200,000 condoms to athletes in Olympic Village
Whoopi Goldberg is delightfully vile as Miss Hannigan in ‘Annie’ stage return
Head of fractured Ohio House loses some GOP allies, but may yet keep leadership role amid infighting
2024 Tesla Cybertruck Dual Motor Foundation Series first drive: Love it or hate it?
Tilda Swinton says people may be 'triggered' by 'Problemista': 'They recognize themselves'