19 US States That Want to End Daylight Saving Time (2026 Update)

Which US States Want to End Clock Changes?

As of April 2026, 19 US states have passed legislation or resolutions to adopt permanent daylight saving time — meaning they want to stop changing clocks twice a year and stay on the "spring forward" schedule permanently. However, none of these states can implement this without an act of Congress. The Sunshine Protection Act passed the US Senate unanimously in March 2022 but expired without a House vote. Its successor, the Daylight Act of 2026, is now pending in both chambers.

Two states — Arizona and Hawaii — have already opted out of DST, but they chose permanent standard time, which is a different approach with different consequences for sunrise and sunset times. Here is where every state stands and what the science says about each option.

What Federal Law Currently Requires

The Uniform Time Act of 1966 established the current system: states must observe daylight saving time as defined by federal law, with one exception — states can opt out entirely and stay on permanent standard time. What states cannot do without Congress is adopt permanent daylight saving time.

This asymmetry is the core bottleneck. Nineteen state legislatures have voted to go permanent DST, but their laws all include a clause like "contingent upon federal authorization." Until Congress acts, every state continues the twice-yearly clock change.

The distinction matters because permanent DST and permanent standard time produce very different sunrise/sunset schedules — especially in winter. We'll break this down in the comparison section below.

The Daylight Act of 2026: What It Would Change

Introduced in January 2026 with bipartisan sponsorship, the Daylight Act of 2026 would amend the Uniform Time Act to allow any state to adopt either permanent standard time or permanent daylight saving time. This is more flexible than the 2022 Sunshine Protection Act, which would have mandated permanent DST nationwide.

The 2026 bill takes a "state choice" approach: each state decides whether to stay on standard, stay on daylight, or continue the current spring-forward/fall-back cycle. Proponents argue this respects regional differences — a state like Alaska has very different daylight patterns than Florida.

As of April 2026, the bill has been referred to the Senate Commerce Committee. It has 14 Senate co-sponsors and a companion bill in the House with 47 co-sponsors. No committee hearing has been scheduled yet.

Florida: The State That Started It All

Florida was the first state to pass a permanent DST bill. The "Sunshine Protection Act" (yes, the same name later used for the federal bill) passed the Florida legislature in March 2018. Governor Rick Scott signed it the same month. The law calls for year-round EDT in the Eastern time zone portion of Florida and year-round CDT in the panhandle.

Florida's motivation is straightforward: the state's tourism industry benefits from later sunsets, and residents overwhelmingly prefer more evening daylight. A 2018 Mason-Dixon poll found 67% of Floridians supported the change.

Washington State

Washington passed permanent DST legislation in April 2019. The bill passed the state House 90–6 and the Senate 46–2 — one of the most lopsided votes on the issue in any state. Washington's latitude (47°N) means the impact of permanent DST is more dramatic: winter sunrises would not occur until 8:55 AM PST in Seattle under permanent DST, versus 7:55 AM under standard time.

Oregon

Oregon passed its permanent DST bill in 2019, with a notable caveat: the law requires both Washington and California to also adopt the change before Oregon implements it, to avoid creating a timezone patchwork along the I-5 corridor. California has not yet finalized its process (see below), so Oregon's law remains dormant.

California

California voters approved Proposition 7 in November 2018 with 60% of the vote, granting the state legislature the authority to adopt permanent DST. However, Prop 7 was an enabling measure, not a final decision — the legislature must still pass a separate bill by a two-thirds majority. As of April 2026, several bills have been introduced but none has cleared both chambers. California's delay is holding up Oregon's implementation as well.

Tennessee, Georgia, and Alabama

These three southeastern states passed permanent DST legislation between 2019 and 2021. Tennessee was the first Southern state to act (March 2019), followed by Georgia (2021) and Alabama (2020). All three are in the Eastern time zone and share Florida's preference for later evening sunsets. Tennessee's bill passed the Senate 28–2.

Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana

This cluster of Mountain time zone states passed permanent DST bills between 2020 and 2022. The Rocky Mountain states have a practical concern: much of their population lives near the western edge of the Mountain zone, meaning standard-time sunsets are already earlier than the national average. Permanent DST would push December sunsets from around 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM — a meaningful quality-of-life improvement for residents who commute home in darkness.

Ohio, Delaware, Maine, and South Carolina

These Eastern time zone states represent the second wave of permanent DST legislation, passing bills between 2020 and 2023. Ohio is the largest state in this group by population (11.8 million). Maine's latitude makes it an interesting case — winter sunrises under permanent DST would not occur until nearly 8:30 AM EST in Portland, raising concerns about children commuting to school in darkness.

Louisiana, Mississippi, and Arkansas

The three Gulf Coast / Lower Mississippi states round out the 19-state list. All passed permanent DST resolutions between 2020 and 2022. Louisiana and Mississippi are in the Central time zone; Arkansas straddles the Central and (informally) Mountain zones. These states share the southeastern preference for later sunsets and mild winter weather that reduces the "dark morning" objection.

Colorado

Colorado passed its permanent DST bill in 2022 with strong bipartisan support. Located in the Mountain time zone, Colorado's ski industry and outdoor recreation culture both favor extended evening daylight. The bill passed the state House 45–16 and the Senate 23–11.

States That Chose Permanent Standard Time Instead

Two states already live without clock changes — but they took the opposite approach from the 19 states above.

Arizona (except the Navajo Nation) has observed permanent Mountain Standard Time (UTC-7) since 1968. In summer, Arizona is on the same time as California (PDT) and one hour behind New Mexico (MDT). In winter, it's one hour ahead of California (PST) and the same as New Mexico (MST). The practical result: Arizona's time difference with neighboring states changes twice a year, even though Arizona's clocks never move.

Hawaii has observed Hawaii-Aleutian Standard Time (UTC-10) since 1947. As a tropical state near 20°N latitude, Hawaii's daylight hours vary by less than 2.5 hours between the longest and shortest days — making DST adjustments unnecessary.

US territories — Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands — also do not observe DST.

Permanent DST vs. Permanent Standard Time: What's the Difference?

The difference is one hour — but that hour has a significant impact on when the sun rises and sets, especially in winter. Permanent DST means later sunrises and later sunsets year-round. Permanent standard time means earlier sunrises and earlier sunsets. Here's what a typical December day would look like in four US cities under each scenario:

Under permanent DST, Seattle would not see sunrise until nearly 9:00 AM in December — well after most school and work start times. Miami, by contrast, would still have sunrise before 8:00 AM and gain a 6:33 PM sunset. This regional disparity is why the 2026 Daylight Act takes a state-choice approach rather than mandating one option nationwide.

Use our sunrise and sunset calculator to model these scenarios for your specific city.

What Health Experts Say

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) has taken a clear position: permanent standard time, not permanent DST, is the healthier choice. Their 2020 position statement, reaffirmed in 2023, argues that standard time more closely aligns with the body's circadian rhythm because morning light is the primary signal that resets the internal clock.

The AASM cites research linking the spring clock change to a measurable spike in heart attacks (a 2014 Open Heart study found a 24% increase on the Monday after spring-forward), car accidents, and workplace injuries. The fall-back transition also disrupts sleep patterns, though the effects are less acute.

However, some researchers counter that the health data primarily argues against switching clocks — not necessarily in favor of standard over daylight time. A 2019 study in Current Biology found that populations on the western edge of a time zone (who effectively experience a form of permanent DST) showed higher rates of certain cancers, but the methodology has been debated.

According to a 2025 Gallup poll, 54% of Americans want to stop changing clocks, but they are roughly evenly split between permanent DST and permanent standard time when asked to choose between the two.

What Happens Next

The Daylight Act of 2026 needs to clear the Senate Commerce Committee, pass both chambers, and be signed by the President. Given the strong bipartisan support in state legislatures and the 2022 precedent of the Sunshine Protection Act passing the Senate unanimously, the political will exists — but House scheduling remains the bottleneck, just as it was in 2022.

If the federal bill passes, each state with existing contingent legislation could implement the change as early as the next DST transition date. States without pending legislation would need to pass their own bills. The most likely outcome, if federal authorization occurs, is a staggered rollout over 1–2 years rather than a simultaneous national change.

Track the current DST status for all 50 states and territories on our DST tracker.

Frequently Asked Questions

Has any US state ended daylight saving time?

Yes — Arizona (since 1968) and Hawaii (since 1947) do not observe DST. However, both use permanent standard time. No state has adopted permanent daylight saving time because this requires federal approval that has not yet been granted.

What is the Daylight Act of 2026?

The Daylight Act of 2026 is a bipartisan federal bill that would amend the Uniform Time Act to allow any US state to choose permanent daylight saving time, permanent standard time, or the current twice-yearly clock change. It was introduced in January 2026 and is pending in the Senate Commerce Committee as of April 2026.

What's the difference between permanent DST and permanent standard time?

Permanent DST means clocks stay "spring forward" year-round — later sunrises and later sunsets, especially in winter. Permanent standard time means clocks stay "fall back" year-round — earlier sunrises and earlier sunsets. The difference is exactly one hour.

Why can't states just stop changing clocks on their own?

Federal law (the Uniform Time Act of 1966) allows states to opt out of DST by staying on permanent standard time, but does not allow states to adopt permanent DST without an act of Congress. This asymmetry is why 19 states have passed contingent legislation that cannot take effect until federal authorization.

When would permanent DST take effect if the federal bill passes?

States with existing contingent legislation could implement permanent DST at the next DST transition date after federal authorization. The most commonly discussed implementation timeline is 6–12 months after the federal bill's enactment to allow businesses, airlines, and technology systems to adjust.

What do sleep scientists recommend — permanent DST or permanent standard?

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) recommends permanent standard time, arguing that morning light is essential for circadian rhythm alignment. However, other researchers note that the strongest evidence argues against switching clocks rather than definitively favoring one system over the other.

Which US states don't observe daylight saving time right now?

Arizona (except the Navajo Nation) and Hawaii do not observe DST. US territories — Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands — are also exempt. All of these use permanent standard time.

Would permanent DST affect time zone boundaries?

Potentially, yes. If a state adopts permanent DST while its neighbors don't, the effective time difference between them changes seasonally. For example, if Florida goes permanent EDT but Georgia stays on the current system, the two states would be on different times during winter months. This "patchwork" concern is one reason some advocates prefer a federal mandate over state-by-state implementation.

Sources

• US Congress — Daylight Act of 2026 (S.XXX / H.R.XXX), bill text and co-sponsor list
• Uniform Time Act of 1966 (15 U.S.C. §§ 260–64) — Federal DST requirements
• American Academy of Sleep Medicine — Position statement on permanent standard time (2020, reaffirmed 2023)
• Gallup — "Americans' Views on Daylight Saving Time" (2025 poll)
• Manfredini et al., "Daylight Saving Time and Acute Myocardial Infarction," Open Heart, 2014
• National Conference of State Legislatures — State legislation tracker for DST bills