Daylight saving time: These US states have laws ready to end a World War 2 practice but Congress just can't make up its mind

Every year, Americans in most states switch their clocks twice — once in spring and again in fall. Now, 19 states have enacted laws that could end the practice, but they are waiting for Congress to act.

Daylight saving time (DST), which moves clocks forward by one hour for part of the year, has a long history in the US. The country first adopted daylight saving time during World War I, and the current federal framework governing the practice dates to the Uniform Time Act of 1966. The country also experimented with year-round daylight saving time in 1974 during an energy crisis, but the unpopular measure was repealed later that year.

Supporters of ending the twice-yearly clock change argue that keeping one time year-round could provide longer daylight hours in the evening and potentially benefit businesses and outdoor activities. Critics of permanent daylight saving time have raised concerns about darker mornings, including children travelling to school and people commuting before sunrise.


When will Congress make daylight saving time permanent?

Congress has debated the issue for years. The Sunshine Protection Act would make daylight saving time permanent across the US, eliminating the twice-yearly clock change.

But lawmakers have yet to reach an agreement on whether the country should remain permanently on daylight saving time or standard time.

The debate is also complicated by the fact that states cannot simply switch to permanent daylight saving time on their own. Federal law currently prevents states from observing daylight saving time year-round, meaning congressional action would be required before the state laws can take effect.

That leaves the 19 states with enacted laws in a waiting position. Their legislation generally calls for year-round daylight saving time if Congress changes federal law to allow it.

Which states are ready to end the daylight saving time switch?

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), 19 states have enacted legislation providing for year-round daylight saving time, although some laws include conditions involving neighboring states or specific parts of a state.

They are:

• Alabama
• Colorado
• Delaware
• Florida
• Georgia
• Idaho — Pacific Time Zone only
• Louisiana
• Maine
• Minnesota
• Mississippi
• Montana
• Oklahoma
• Oregon — Pacific Time Zone only
• South Carolina
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Utah
• Washington
• Wyoming

Florida was the first state to enact legislation for year-round daylight saving time in 2018. Texas became the most recent state on the list after enacting its law in 2025.

What happens if Congress does nothing?

For now, the twice-yearly clock change remains the federal rule across most of the country.

NCSL says states cannot independently adopt permanent daylight saving time under the current federal law. That means the 19 state laws cannot take effect unless Congress changes the rules.

In other words, while nearly two dozen states have already made their choice on paper, the final decision still rests with Congress.