Current:Home > StocksDo all Americans observe daylight saving time? Why some states and territories don't. -Quantum Finance Bridge
Do all Americans observe daylight saving time? Why some states and territories don't.
View
Date:2025-04-14 18:52:10
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! (456)
Related
- Apple iOS 18.2: What to know about top features, including Genmoji, AI updates
- ParkMobile $32.8 million settlement: How to join class
- Travis Kelce Praises Taylor Swift For Making Eras Tour "Best In The World"
- Beyoncé takes home first award in country music category at 2024 Billboard Music Awards
- Small twin
- Stock market today: Asian stocks are mixed ahead of key US inflation data
- 'September 5' depicts shocking day when terrorism arrived at the Olympics
- US weekly jobless claims unexpectedly rise
- Hackers hit Rhode Island benefits system in major cyberattack. Personal data could be released soon
- The burial site of the people Andrew Jackson enslaved was lost. The Hermitage says it is found
Ranking
- Global Warming Set the Stage for Los Angeles Fires
- When does 'No Good Deed' come out? How to watch Ray Romano, Lisa Kudrow's new dark comedy
- China says Philippines has 'provoked trouble' in South China Sea with US backing
- Our 12 favorites moments of 2024
- Travis Hunter, the 2
- Mystery drones are swarming New Jersey skies, but can you shoot them down?
- New Jersey, home to many oil and gas producers, eyes fees to fight climate change
- Shanghai bear cub Junjun becomes breakout star
Recommendation
Tree trimmer dead after getting caught in wood chipper at Florida town hall
Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Dropping Hints
'The Later Daters': Cast, how to stream new Michelle Obama
SCDF aids police in gaining entry to cluttered Bedok flat, discovers 73
Biden administration makes final diplomatic push for stability across a turbulent Mideast
What was 2024's best movie? From 'The Substance' to 'Conclave,' our top 10
Worst. Tariffs. Ever. (update)
'Squid Game' without subtitles? Duolingo, Netflix encourage fans to learn Korean