19 US States That Want Permanent Daylight Saving Time

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - As the United States (US) approaches the annual end of daylight saving time, a federal proposal could revive efforts to make the practice permanent across the country.

The House has passed the Sunshine Protection Act, which would make daylight saving time permanent nationwide, with limited exceptions. The legislation still faces consideration in the Senate.

President Donald Trump has expressed support for making daylight saving time permanent. If Congress approves the measure, it could clear the way for states that have already enacted legislation supporting year-round daylight saving time.

Under current federal law, states may opt out of daylight saving time and observe permanent standard time, as Hawaii and most of Arizona do. However, states cannot independently adopt permanent daylight saving time without congressional authorization.

According to congressional and state legislative records, as cited by News Nation, 19 states have enacted legislation calling for year-round daylight saving time.

19 States That Have Approved Permanent Daylight Saving Time

1. Alabama

Alabama has enacted legislation supporting year-round daylight saving time, but the change requires authorization from Congress before it can take effect.

2. Colorado

Colorado has approved legislation for permanent daylight saving time. Its legislation includes conditions linked to neighboring states also adopting the change.

3. Delaware

Delaware approved year-round daylight saving time legislation in 2019. The measure includes conditions involving Maryland, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

4. Florida

Florida became the first state to approve legislation calling for permanent daylight saving time in 2018.

The state's legislation would take effect if Congress changes federal law to allow states to observe daylight saving time year-round.

5. Georgia

Georgia has enacted legislation supporting permanent daylight saving time as part of the broader state-level push to keep clocks on daylight time throughout the year.

6. Idaho

Idaho has approved legislation calling for year-round daylight saving time, subject to the federal authorization required under current law.

7. Louisiana

Louisiana is among the states that have enacted legislation supporting permanent daylight saving time.

8. Maine

Maine became one of the most recent states to approve legislation for year-round daylight saving time, joining the effort to change the current twice-yearly clock adjustment.

9. Minnesota

Minnesota has enacted legislation supporting permanent daylight saving time, although federal action is still required before the policy can take effect.

10. Mississippi

Mississippi has also approved legislation calling for daylight saving time to continue throughout the year.

11. Montana

Montana has enacted legislation supporting permanent daylight saving time, with the state's measure subject to conditions involving neighboring states.

12. Oklahoma

Oklahoma has approved legislation supporting year-round daylight saving time.

13. Oregon

Oregon has enacted legislation calling for permanent daylight saving time, although its law includes a condition involving California.

The legislation also excludes Malheur County from the proposed change.

14. South Carolina

South Carolina is among the states that have enacted legislation supporting permanent daylight saving time.

15. Tennessee

Tennessee has approved legislation calling for daylight saving time to remain in effect year-round, pending the necessary federal authorization.

16. Texas

Texas has enacted legislation supporting permanent daylight saving time and is among the states waiting for Congress to change federal law.

17. Utah

Utah has approved legislation supporting year-round daylight saving time, with conditions tied to action by neighboring states.

18. Washington

Washington has enacted legislation supporting permanent daylight saving time, subject to conditions specified in state law.

19. Wyoming

Wyoming has approved legislation calling for year-round daylight saving time, with its law containing conditions related to neighboring states.

What Happens Next?

The federal Sunshine Protection Act would remove the current federal restriction that prevents states from observing daylight saving time year-round. A similar proposal passed the Senate in 2022 but did not become law after failing to advance in the House.

The current effort therefore represents another attempt to resolve the long-running debate over whether Americans should continue changing their clocks twice a year.

For now, however, the existing system remains in place. Unless Congress changes the law, clocks across most of the United States will continue to move back to standard time on November 1, 2026.

While the debate over permanent daylight saving time continues in the United States, other countries and regions are preparing for their own seasonal clock changes. For more on how daylight saving time works in New South Wales and what residents can expect this year, read Daylight Saving Starts in NSW on October 4: What to Know.

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Read: Daylight Savings Victoria Ending Soon: All You Need to Know

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