Latest news with #UniformTimeActof1966
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Is Texas staying on daylight saving time? There's only one way for law to take effect
There has been debate for years among Texans and state legislators about whether the Lone Star State should adopt daylight saving time permanently. House Bill 1393, also known as "Texas Time," could bring an end to that discussion. Will Texans have more sunlight year-round? Here's what to know about the bill. The idea dates back to World War I, although some credit Benjamin Franklin for daylight saving time due to a satirical letter he wrote in 1784 stating: "Every morning, as soon as the sun rises, let all the bells in every church be set ringing: and if that is not sufficient, let cannon be fired in every street to wake the sluggards effectually." To maximize resources for the war, Germany and Austria implemented the first daylight saving time in 1916. The U.S. did the same in 1918. It's an outdated idea, some argue. House Bill 1393, referred to as the 'Texas Time" bill, aims to eliminate biannual clock changes and keep Texas on daylight saving time year-round. The bill has successfully passed through the Texas legislature and is now awaiting Governor Greg Abbott's signature. The bill, however, can't take effect unless Congress changes federal law to allow states to adopt daylight saving time permanently. Supporters argue that maintaining a consistent time year-round would reduce confusion, improve safety, and enhance productivity. Opponents of permanent daylight saving time cite health and safety concerns, often arguing that maintaining standard time year-round would be the better choice. Under the federal Uniform Time Act of 1966, states may not currently adopt permanent daylight saving time, but they can opt out of time changes by sticking with standard time year-round. That's how states like Arizona and Hawaii can keep from changing their clocks twice a year. Texas joins 18 other states that have passed similar permanent daylight saving time measures, and there's interest at the federal level in allowing the change. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Is Texas staying on daylight saving time permanently? It's complicated
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
‘Texas Time' is here: Lone Star State moves to observe daylight saving time year-round
Texas lawmakers have disagreed for years over whether and how to abolish the unpopular semiannual clock change in the state, but a bill that is on its way to the governor will finally bring an end to that debate — if Congress also acts. House Bill 1393 by Conroe Republican Rep. Will Metcalf would establish 'Texas Time,' or permanent daylight saving time in the state, if federal lawmakers later allow states to do so. 'Right now, the federal government does not allow the states to make this change, so this is effectively a trigger bill,' said Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, who sponsored the bill in the upper chamber. Under the federal Uniform Time Act of 1966, states may not currently adopt permanent daylight saving time, but they can opt out of time changes by sticking with standard time year-round. That's how states like Arizona and Hawaii can keep from changing their clocks twice a year. Texas joins 18 other states that have passed similar permanent daylight saving time measures, and there's interest at the federal level in allowing the change. But lawmakers have remained divided up to this point on whether to keep changing the clocks or adopt permanent standard or daylight time. At least 13 bills were filed on the topic this session. Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo, filed a proposal to make standard time the standard. Zaffirini and Bettencourt also each called for a statewide referendum to allow Texans to choose their preferred time system. Neither of those proposals gained any traction in the Legislature. Critics of permanent daylight saving time have health and safety concerns for their opposition to the idea, often touting permanent standard time as the better option. 'Everybody hates the time change,' said Sen. Nathan Johnson, a Dallas Democrat. 'But this has been studied medically, and there is a ton of health risks' to permanent daylight saving time. 'Daylight saving time itself disrupts the body's natural circadian rhythms and affects sleep,' he said, arguing that traffic accidents could also increase as Texans commute to work and school in the pre-dawn hours. The Senate passed HB 1393 with a 27-4 vote Thursday. The House overwhelmingly approved the measure in April, and the proposal was sent to Gov. Greg Abbott's desk for a signature Monday. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas Legislature moves to observe daylight saving time year-round
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
When Is Daylight Savings in 2025 & Is Donald Trump Changing It?
Curious about the status of daylight saving time in the U.S.? The twice-yearly time change has been a topic of debate for years, with some advocating for its elimination while others support its continued observance. As daylight saving time approaches in 2025, questions have surfaced about whether any changes are on the horizon, especially under President 's administration. Here's when daylight saving time starts and whether any changes are expected. Daylight saving time (DST) in the United States starts on Sunday, March 9, 2025, at 2 a.m. local time. At that moment, people will move their clocks forward by one hour, shifting daylight to later in the evening. The time change stays in effect until Sunday, November 2, when daylight saving time ends, and clocks move back one hour to standard time (ST). Most U.S. states follow DST, except for Hawaii and most of Arizona, which do not observe the practice. The U.S. first implemented daylight saving time in 1918 to maximize daylight use and adjust to seasonal changes. The Uniform Time Act of 1966 established a national framework, allowing states to opt out. Congress has debated modifying or eliminating DST over the years, but no permanent changes have passed. President Donald Trump has not taken executive action to change or eliminate daylight saving time since returning to office in January 2025. In December 2024, he stated that 'the Republican Party will use its best efforts to eliminate daylight saving time.' However, in a statement on March 6, 2025, he described it as a '50-50 issue,' indicating an even division in public preference. The decision to eliminate or modify daylight saving time requires congressional approval. Previous legislative efforts, such as the Sunshine Protection Act of 2022, sought to make DST permanent but did not advance in Congress. While discussions on potential changes continue, no current legislation has been passed to alter the existing time change system. Daylight saving time remains in place as scheduled, with the next transition occurring on March 9, 2025. Any future adjustments to DST would require congressional action and presidential approval. The post When Is Daylight Savings in 2025 & Is Donald Trump Changing It? appeared first on - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More.
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
When Is Daylight Savings Time in 2025 & Will Donald Trump Change It?
Curious about the status of daylight saving time in the U.S.? The twice-yearly time change has been a topic of debate for years, with some advocating for its elimination while others support its continued observance. As daylight saving time approaches in 2025, questions have surfaced about whether any changes are on the horizon, especially under President Donald Trump's administration. Here's when daylight saving time starts and whether any changes are expected. Daylight saving time (DST) in the United States starts on Sunday, March 9, 2025, at 2 a.m. local time. At that moment, people will move their clocks forward by one hour, shifting daylight to later in the evening. The time change stays in effect until Sunday, November 2, when daylight saving time ends, and clocks move back one hour to standard time (ST). Most U.S. states follow DST, except for Hawaii and most of Arizona, which do not observe the practice. The U.S. first implemented daylight saving time in 1918 to maximize daylight use and adjust to seasonal changes. The Uniform Time Act of 1966 established a national framework, allowing states to opt out. Congress has debated modifying or eliminating DST over the years, but no permanent changes have passed. President Donald Trump has not taken executive action to change or eliminate daylight saving time since returning to office in January 2025. In December 2024, he stated that 'the Republican Party will use its best efforts to eliminate daylight saving time.' However, in a statement on March 6, 2025, he described it as a '50-50 issue,' indicating an even division in public preference. The decision to eliminate or modify daylight saving time requires congressional approval. Previous legislative efforts, such as the Sunshine Protection Act of 2022, sought to make DST permanent but did not advance in Congress. While discussions on potential changes continue, no current legislation has been passed to alter the existing time change system. Daylight saving time remains in place as scheduled, with the next transition occurring on March 9, 2025. Any future adjustments to DST would require congressional action and presidential approval. Originally reported by Vritti Johar on Comingsoon. The post When Is Daylight Savings Time in 2025 & Will Donald Trump Change It? appeared first on Mandatory.
Yahoo
09-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Why these 2 states didn't ‘spring forward' to daylight saving time this morning
(NEXSTAR) — You may have been groggy this morning thanks to our clocks 'springing forward' an hour overnight. Unless, of course, you live in either of the two states that don't observe daylight saving time. Then this Sunday is just like every other Sunday. While the rest of the U.S. uses daylight saving time to gain additional sunlight when we want it most, it's an abundance of sunshine that keeps two states on standard time year-round. What would change if daylight saving time became permanent? It's Hawaii and most of Arizona that remain on standard time all year, skipping the switching of the clocks in March and November. Arizona — with the exception of the Navajo Nation — has observed Mountain Standard Time year-round since 1968. By remaining on standard time, Arizona sees an earlier sunset (at least according to the clocks,) which offers quicker relief on hot summer days, The Arizona Republic explains. In Hawaii, the driving force to its standard time observation is its proximity to the quarter, which means there isn't much difference in how much sun they see throughout the year. And why bother 'saving' daylight when you already get so much of it? Trump signals he won't seek to change daylight saving time: 'It's a 50/50 issue' Several states have considered replicating Hawaii and Arizona, including more than a dozen where legislation for permanent standard time has been introduced this year. Under the Uniform Time Act of 1966, states can exempt themselves from daylight saving time by observing permanent standard time year-round, but they cannot observe permanent daylight saving time all year. Many states — including some also considering permanent standard time — have seen attempts to observe permanent daylight saving time in recent months. Daylight saving time 2025: These states are trying to 'lock the clocks' Congress has tried to pass laws to make daylight saving time permanent nationwide. Four related bills — two to enact permanent daylight saving time and two to give states the power to observe it year-round — have been introduced in Congress this year. All three remain in committees as of early March. As for now, our clocks are set to 'fall back' an hour on November 2. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
