Daylight Saving Time Ends in the US Amid Permanent Change Debate

The clock change is back in the US: DST ends Nov. 2, 2025. With 19 states ready for year-round daylight, find out why Congress continues to stall the push to end the twice-yearly shift.

The familiar ritual of changing clocks has once again gripped the United States, as the country prepares to “fall back“ to standard time this weekend.

While most Americans will gain an hour of sleep, the transition has reignited the national debate over whether the country should abolish the biannual time shift and adopt a permanent time standard.

The 2025 Time Change Details

The transition from Daylight Saving Time (DST) to Standard Time follows the federally mandated schedule, affecting nearly all states and territories.

• DST Ends: The clocks will officially fall back one hour at 2:00 a.m. local time on Sunday, November 2, 2025. The time will instantly become 1:00 a.m., marking the return to standard time for the winter months.
• DST Start (For Context): Daylight Saving Time began earlier this year on Sunday, March 9, 2025, when clocks “sprang forward.”
• Exempt States: As in previous years, Arizona (with the exception of the Navajo Nation) and Hawaii do not observe DST and will not change their clocks.

The shift means sunsets will occur an hour earlier, creating more daylight in the morning and a quicker transition to evening darkness.

Public and Political Push to ‘Lock the Clocks’

Despite the clock change being an annual event, public opposition to the practice has reached a historic high, keeping the issue firmly on the political agenda at both the state and federal levels.

• Record Low Support: Recent polling suggests that support for the practice of switching time twice a year has dropped to its lowest level in US history, with a clear majority of Americans now favouring ending the practice altogether.
• Legislative Gridlock: The growing momentum to “lock the clocks” is stalled by federal law. While states are permitted to observe permanent Standard Time (as Arizona and Hawaii do), they are prohibited from adopting permanent DST without a change in federal law.
• States Ready to Change: Currently, nearly 20 states have enacted legislation expressing their intent to move to year-round DST, but these laws remain in a holding pattern, contingent on congressional approval.
• Federal Hurdles: The Sunshine Protection Act, which would make DST the permanent national standard, has been repeatedly introduced in Congress and even unanimously passed by the Senate in 2022, but has so far failed to pass the House of Representatives, leaving the US trapped in the current system.

The core of the debate centers on whether to choose permanent Standard Time (more morning light) or permanent Daylight Saving Time (more evening light).

However, the consensus among the public remains that the act of changing the clocks itself is the major inconvenience that needs to be eliminated.

Tips for a Smooth Transition

Health and safety experts advise that even the one-hour shift can disrupt sleep cycles, mood, and potentially increase health risks like accidents.

• Manual Clocks: While most digital devices adjust automatically, remember to manually adjust all wall clocks, car clocks, and appliance times before bed Saturday night.
• Health Adjustment: Try to adjust your bedtime by 15-30 minutes for a couple of days leading up to the change to ease the transition for your internal body clock.
• Safety First: Be aware of the earlier darkness in the evenings when commuting or supervising outdoor activities.

Would you like to see a list of the 19 states that have passed legislation to make Daylight Saving Time permanent?

The States Pushing for Permanent Daylight Saving Time

You asked for the list of states that have passed legislation to move to permanent Daylight Saving Time (DST), pending federal approval. This list represents the states that are currently in a “waiting mode,” ready to “lock the clocks” and eliminate the biannual time change once Congress acts.

The 19 States Ready for Permanent DST

As of late 2025, 19 states have enacted legislation or passed resolutions to adopt year-round Daylight Saving Time, contingent upon a change in federal law.

Current federal law, the Uniform Time Act of 1966, allows states to opt-out of DST and remain on permanent Standard Time (like Arizona and Hawaii), but it prohibits them from observing DST year-round without congressional authorization.

What Happens Next?

The fate of these state laws rests in the hands of the U.S. Congress.

• Federal Proposals: Bills like the Sunshine Protection Act have been introduced to make DST permanent nationwide, but they have consistently stalled, most recently after passing the Senate in 2022 but failing to advance in the House.
• Split Preference: While most Americans are ready to end the clock changes, they are split on which time to choose:
  • Permanent DST (more evening light, later sunrises in winter).
  • Permanent Standard Time (more morning light, earlier sunsets in summer).

Until Congress provides a pathway for states to permanently adopt DST, the majority of the US will continue to observe the “spring forward, fall back” schedule, with the next time change set for March 8, 2026 (when clocks will “spring forward” again).