It’s that time of year again! What you need to know about the daylight saving time debate

Twice a year the ritual returns like a real clockwork: the beginning and end of summer time.

This year, daylight saving time ends tomorrow, Sunday.

Millions of Americans, grumbling or jubilant, tap their devices or wind the hands of their watches, manually—and mentally—changing the time to reflect the changing seasons.

In recent years, lawmakers have said that this outdated tradition is on its last legs. A number of federal and state bills aimed at changing the biannual deadlines are awaiting action or stalled, at least for now.

Here’s a look at how things stand.

What is the status of the Senate bill to end the temporary changes?

In March 2022, the Senate passed the Sunshine Protection Act. The goal of the bill was to make daylight saving time permanent starting in the spring of 2023.

And at first it seemed that this could become a reality. The Senate passed the bill on an expedited basis and by unanimous consent, a legislative rarity these days.

But the bill was not passed in the House of Representatives. Members cited higher priorities such as the budget deficit and the war in Ukraine, but there was also a growing chorus of criticism about the bill’s approach (more on this below).

Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., reintroduced the bill in March 2023 and it was sent to the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, but there have been no significant changes on it since then. A companion bill introduced by Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Fla., is also before a House-level committee.

Even if either The bill manages to pass both houses, it still must be signed by President Biden, who has not indicated which way he leans. on this issue.

So for now the tradition remains intact.

Who observes daylight saving time?

All but two states—Hawaii and Arizona (with the exception of the Navajo Nation)—observe daylight saving time. The US territories of American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and the Northern Mariana Islands also do not change time.

What is the argument against the Sunshine Protection Act?

When the Sunshine Protection Act was first debated in a House subcommittee, experts said making daylight saving time permanent would help everyone: save lives, reduce crime, save energy and improve health.

And almost everyone agrees that stopping time changes is generally a good idea. Our bodies can be very sensitive to circadian rhythm disturbances.

But the medical community has expressed dissatisfaction with the way the bill proposes changes, namely that it requires all states to adopt permanent daylight saving time rather than stick to standard time.

Doctors and scientists say that standard time is better for our health. Our internal clocks are better in sync with the morning light, which in turn sets us up for better sleep cycles.

However, the authors of the bill did not budge. Rubio still insists on making daylight saving time permanent.

And the biggest argument in favor of this approach may be economic. The idea is that more light in the evening encourages people to go out and do something, i.e. spend money.

For example, the nation’s convenience stores told a congressional subcommittee that they see increased costs when clocks change to daylight saving time.

Can states adopt their own time change rules?

As federal legislation remains pending, states can address this issue but are still subject to some federal restrictions.

The Uniform Time Act, passed in 1966, states that states can implement permanent standard time, but not permanent daylight saving time.

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), at least 550 bills and resolutions related to temporary changes at the state level have appeared in recent years. Thus, the same debates that are taking place at the federal level are playing out in state houses across the United States.

Save Standard Time, a nonprofit organization that works to end Daylight Saving Time, regularly updates a detailed chart with the exact status of government accounts.

Which states are trying to abolish daylight saving time?

In 2023, at least 29 states have considered legislation addressing daylight saving time.

At least half of these states have taken or have taken action promising to make daylight saving time permanent if Congress changes the rules to allow such action.

Some of these states are also actively considering legislation that would end daylight saving time, but by moving the state to year-round standard time, according to NCSL.

Last month, an Oregon bill that would have used Pacific Standard Time throughout most of the state failed to pass the state Senate. But supporters agreed to amend the bill, saying Oregon would end daylight saving time only if California and Washington made the same change within the next 10 years.

Legislators in Oregon’s neighboring states of Idaho, California and Washington have proposed similar bills.

Copyright: NPR 2024