The majority of the United States observes Daylight Saving Time, which is a practice of advancing clocks by one hour during the daylight hours when there is more than five hours of daylight, resulting in longer evenings and shorter mornings. Hawaii, the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands, along with Arizona except for the Navajo reservations, are exceptions to this practice. Daylight Saving Time was instituted in the United States with the passage of the Uniform Time Act in 1966.
Daylight Saving Time in the United States is observed, changing from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November according to local time. As per a memorable phrase about seasons, “spring forward, fall back”; meaning, in the spring, clocks are moved forward from 2:00 am to 3:00 am, and in the fall, they are set back from 2:00 am to 1:00 am. Every year, Daylight Saving Time accounts for 34 weeks (238 days) or approximately 65% of the total time on Earth.
However, there have been unsuccessful attempts to abolish Daylight Saving Time, and by 2024, federal law supports changing it twice a year. The Sunshine Protection Act, which would establish Daylight Saving Time permanently, was passed by the US Senate in 2022 but was not confirmed by the US House of Representatives.
Changing a Time Zone in a Jurisdiction
Changing a state or a portion of it between time zones requires compliance with daylight saving time rules as amended by the Standard Time Act of 1918 and the Uniform Time Act of 1966. In each county, the top elected official may submit a request and request for an entire state. Alternatively, a portion of the state may be initiated by the governor or state legislature. Ease of doing business in that area works as a standard under the law for such determinations. The term “commercial convenience” is used to refer to a broad range of situations where local delivery of goods, sources of radio and television broadcasts, the location where the majority of people reside, work, or attend school are relevant.
After receiving a request to change a time zone, the Department issues a notice of proposed regulation, requests public comments, and holds a public hearing only when it meets the minimum legal requirements. Generally, the hearing takes place where the amendment is being proposed, allowing representation from all parties involved. After the comment period ends, comments are reviewed, and necessary actions are taken. If the Secretary certifies that the legal requirements have been met, the change is typically implemented in or during conversion to DST.
Changing a DST Setting for an Area
Changing the DST status of an area under the Uniform Time Act requires state-level legislative action. Pursuant to decisions made by Congress, states may choose to opt out of DST entirely or opt to observe DST. While some states require legislative action, others require executive action, such as a governor’s executive order. The governor’s office or the legislature of a particular state can provide information about the processes to be followed there. If a state chooses to observe DST, it may opt out itself, but compliance with federal law regarding observation dates is required.
Edited: Arizona
Also See: Arizona Time
This Arizona road sign uses both traffic safety warnings regarding the use of seat belts and notifications to drivers about local time standards.
Due to a lack of passage of an exemption bill by the State Legislature in 1967, Arizona has not observed DST under the Uniform Time Act. The DST exemption law was passed in March 1968, and Arizona has not observed DST since 1967. Its primary aim is energy conservation. Since Phoenix and Tucson are two of the hottest cities in the country during the summers, homes and businesses use more energy for air conditioning and evaporative coolers. If people have an extra hour of sunlight during exercise, they will run their cooling systems.
California
In 1949, California voters approved a proposal allowing them to implement DST there.
On November 6, 2018, Proposal 7 was approved by 60% of California’s votes. It gives the legislature the authority to: a) amend DST measures with a two-thirds majority, thereby nullifying the 1949 proposal; b) make DST permanent throughout the year subject to federal approval; and c) take action to change time policy regarding both DST and standard time. However, the state legislature has never acted on Proposal 7.
