Current:Home > reviewsDo all Americans observe daylight saving time? Why some states and territories don't. -Wealth Legacy Solutions
Do all Americans observe daylight saving time? Why some states and territories don't.
Surpassing Quant Think Tank Center View
Date:2025-03-11 10:18:38
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! (18)
Related
- Macy's says employee who allegedly hid $150 million in expenses had no major 'impact'
- US weekly jobless claims unexpectedly rise
- Sabrina Carpenter Shares Her Self
- Dick Van Dyke credits neighbors with saving his life and home during Malibu fire
- US wholesale inflation accelerated in November in sign that some price pressures remain elevated
- 'September 5' depicts shocking day when terrorism arrived at the Olympics
- Albertsons gives up on Kroger merger and sues the grocery chain for failing to secure deal
- Southern California forecast of cool temps, calm winds to help firefighters battle Malibu blaze
- 2025 'Doomsday Clock': This is how close we are to self
- Lil Durk suspected of funding a 2022 murder as he seeks jail release in separate case
Ranking
- The Louvre will be renovated and the 'Mona Lisa' will have her own room
- 'Squid Game' without subtitles? Duolingo, Netflix encourage fans to learn Korean
- Gen Z is 'doom spending' its way through the holidays. What does that mean?
- Secretary of State Blinken is returning to the Mideast in his latest diplomatic foray
- Why Sean "Diddy" Combs Is Being Given a Laptop in Jail Amid Witness Intimidation Fears
- Atmospheric river and potential bomb cyclone bring chaotic winter weather to East Coast
- Trump taps immigration hard
- Michael Bublé Details Heartwarming Moment With Taylor Swift’s Parents at Eras Tour
Recommendation
Working Well: When holidays present rude customers, taking breaks and the high road preserve peace
Manager of pet grooming salon charged over death of corgi that fell off table
Drew Barrymore has been warned to 'back off' her guests after 'touchy' interviews
Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Follow Your Dreams
'Most Whopper
See Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon's Twins Monroe and Moroccan Gift Her Flowers Onstage
How to watch the 'Blue Bloods' Season 14 finale: Final episode premiere date, cast
Supreme Court allows investors’ class action to proceed against microchip company Nvidia