Daylight saving time returns to most of the U.S. this weekend, which means it’s time to “spring forward” and welcome a later sunset for the next eight months.
Here’s what to know about the time change and when to change those clocks.
When does daylight saving time start?
For the 48 states that observe daylight saving time, including Mississippi, clocks will need to be set forward one hour at 2 a.m. local time on Sunday, March 8.
It’s best to set your clocks before going to sleep on Saturday night to avoid a time-blind frenzy upon waking up Sunday morning, although smart phones and other devices generally change the time automatically. Speaking of sleep, you will lose an hour of time on Saturday night, but isn’t it worth it for an extra hour of sunlight at the end of the day?
When does daylight saving time end?
Clocks will “fall back” on Sunday, Nov. 1. Each year, daylight saving time begins on the first Sunday of March and ends on the first Sunday of November.
Who observes daylight saving time?
Over 70 counties across the world participate in daylight saving time, according to timeanddate.com. All U.S. states observe daylight saving time, with Hawaii and Arizona (exempting the Navajo Nation) being the only original holdouts. Hawaii and Arizona were able to avoid the twice-annual time change by opting out of the 1966 Uniform Time Act, which regulates American time zones.
Territories American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, the Northern Marina Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands do no observe daylight saving time.
Why is daylight saving time observed?
This is the million-dollar question. While some people blame farmers for the creation of daylight saving time, those in agriculture vouch it’s not them who wanted the time change.
According to the New York Times, Benjamin Franklin was credited with the idea after he realizes he was wasting mornings staying in bed. Franklin’s idea entered American government policy in 1918 to help conserve fuel and power during World War I. The U.S. followed in the footsteps of Germany (1916) in enacting daylight saving time. Even though the original goal was to cut energy costs, there are conflicting studies with some arguing it doesn’t actually do that.
Will daylight saving time soon become permanent?
Many elected officials on both the state and federal levels have voiced their disdain for the twice-annual time change, but at this point, it’s up to Congress to make the final decision. Some states have enacted trigger legislation to make daylight saving time permanent waiting on a presidential pen stroke. Mississippi enacted legislation in 2021 for year-round daylight saving time, pending congressional approval. An identical bill changing the start date to July 1, 2026, was filed this year in the Mississippi Legislature but died in committee.
On the federal level, U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) has cosponsored legislation on multiple occasions that would put a stop to the clock-changing. Hyde-Smith and others in favor of making daylight saving time permanent argue it would result in more productivity and physical activity for Americans as more sunlight would be made available during waking hours.
The Sunshine Protection Act, which would make daylight saving time permanent, is still proposed and pending in Congress. It must be passed by the House and Senate before going to the president’s desk for approval.