07-03-2025
Where do Missouri lawmakers stand on ending daylight saving time?
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Missourians will be setting their clocks forward on March 9, losing an hour of sleep as daylight saving time begins.
But some state lawmakers are trying to 'lock the clocks' and end the time change, with five bills currently introduced regarding the twice-a-year ritual, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
Multiple legislators have filed these bills, with some attempting to exempt the Show-Me State from the time change altogether and others seeking exemption only if the federal government adopts daylight saving time as the new standard time:
HB 490 (Rep. Dean Van Schoiack, R-Savannah) and HB 701 (Rep. Aaron Crossley, D-Independence): exempts the state from daylight saving time unless the federal government adopts daylight saving time as the new standard time.
HB 1179 (Rep. Jame Gragg, R-Ozark) and SB 534 (Sen. Joe Nicola, R-Grain Valley): exempts the state from daylight saving time unless a change to federal law is made. Establishes the daylight saving as new standard time pact.
SB 596 (Sen. David Gregory, R-Chesterfield): exempts the state from daylight saving time.
Missouri is one of at least 31 states that are considering ending daylight saving time for good, but these are just the latest attempts at ending the time change.
Past efforts
In 2024, 31 bills proposing to end daylight saving time were introduced across the country. In Missouri, three bills (sponsored by Gragg, Van Schoiack and former Rep. Chris Sander) failed to make it out of the state House.
The bills from Gragg and Sander would have established a new 'Daylight Saving as New Standard Time Pact', consisting of Missouri and any other state hoping to eliminate daylight saving time. It would have exempted the state from daylight saving time and made standard time permanent unless the federal government adopted daylight saving as the new standard time.
Van Schoiack's bill would have prohibited Missouri from participating in daylight saving unless federal law is modified.
Former Rep. Michael O'Donnell also attempted to create a 'Daylight Saving as New Standard Time Pact' in 2023.
Either way, Show-Me State residents will be setting their clocks ahead come Sunday.
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