Daylight Saving Time 2024: Clock Changes, Exemptions, and Efforts to End Time Shifts

As of March 2024, daylight saving time is commencing in most parts of the U.S., signaling the need for clocks to be adjusted. However, there are exceptions to this practice, with two states and several territories choosing not to observe daylight saving time.

Clock Adjustment and Schedule Disruptions

Come Sunday, individuals across the nation will advance their clocks by an hour, resulting in a loss of an hour of sleep. Conversely, daylight saving time ends on November 3rd, with clocks being set back by an hour. It's important to note that the biannual clock adjustment is not universal across the U.S.

States and Territories that Do Not Observe Daylight Saving Time

According to the Department of Transportation, responsible for overseeing the nation's time zones, the following are the states and U.S. territories that do not adhere to daylight saving time:

• Arizona (with the exception of the Navajo Nation)
• Hawaii
• American Samoa
• Guam
• Northern Mariana Islands
• Puerto Rico
• U.S. Virgin Islands

Insight into the Lack of Uniformity

Indiana only adopted daylight saving time in 2006, shedding light on the factors influencing the decision to participate in this practice.

Legal Background and State Exemptions

The Uniform Time Act of 1966 established daylight saving time as a legal requirement. This act allows states to exempt themselves from the practice without requiring permission from the Department of Transportation.

Limitations on State Autonomy

While states can choose not to observe daylight saving time, they are not permitted to permanently maintain daylight saving time. Additionally, states do not have the authority to independently alter time zones or the duration of daylight saving time, as these determinations fall under federal government jurisdiction.

Reasons for Opting Out

States and territories that have opted out of daylight saving time have done so for various reasons, which may include climatic conditions and energy considerations.

Arizona's Decision

Arizona is a notable example of a state that decided not to participate in daylight saving time back in 1968. This decision was influenced by the region's hot temperatures and desert climate, as well as the implications for energy costs.

Impact of Time Change on Energy Usage

Given that sunset occurs an hour later when clocks are set forward, it would lead to people staying out later in hot months, ultimately affecting energy consumption. This aspect was underscored in a 2022 Congressional hearing by Arizona Rep. Debbie Lesko, who highlighted the challenges faced by Arizonans due to the region's extreme summer conditions.

Exemption of the Navajo Nation

It's worth noting that the Navajo Nation, spanning parts of Arizona, Utah, and New Mexico, does adhere to daylight saving time despite Arizona's overall exemption.

Hawaii's Position

In 1967, officials in Hawaii determined that the state did not need to adjust its schedules based on changes in daylight, citing its proximity to the equator and the consistent sunlight it receives throughout the year.

Public Opinion and Legislative Initiatives

A 2022 CBS News/YouGov poll indicated that nearly 80% of Americans were in support of altering the current daylight saving time system. There have been efforts at both the state and federal levels to either abolish or make daylight saving time permanent.

State Initiatives

Several states, including Colorado and Massachusetts, have pursued legislative action related to daylight saving time. Colorado passed a law in 2022 advocating for year-round daylight saving time, contingent upon a federal law enabling states to adopt this practice permanently. Similarly, Massachusetts officials deliberated on bills aiming to either establish permanent daylight saving time or revert to standard time throughout the year.

Federal Proposals

At the federal level, there have been bills introduced to make daylight saving time permanent, although these have encountered procedural hurdles. For instance, a bill introduced in 2022 faced delays in the House and was subsequently reintroduced in 2023, remaining under committee review.