Introduction
Daylight Saving Time (DST) is a practice where clocks are set forward by an hour in the spring and then back an hour in the fall. The idea behind it is to take advantage of longer daylight hours during the summer months and reduce energy costs. In the United States, DST is observed in most states, but there are a few exceptions. This article aims to provide a complete guide to DST in the U.S., including which states do and do not observe the clock change, an overview of the history and future of DST, and a discussion of the pros and cons of DST policies.
A Complete Guide to Daylight Saving Time: Which States Do and Don’t Observe the Clock Change?
Most states, with the exception of Hawaii and most of Arizona, observe DST in the United States. However, certain territories and areas of states may also choose not to observe DST:
- Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa do not observe DST.
- The Navajo Nation in Arizona does change their clocks, while other parts of the state do not.
- Indiana only began observing DST in 2006 and had previously been divided into counties that did or did not use it.
The reasons for not observing DST vary. In the case of Hawaii, for example, the state is located close to the equator, so the amount of daylight doesn’t vary significantly throughout the year. In Arizona, the high temperatures during the summer months led lawmakers to decide against DST as a way to avoid longer periods of daylight during the hottest parts of the day.
There have also been recent changes to DST policies in certain states. For example, in 2018, Florida adopted year-round DST, but this change would require federal approval for it to take effect. Similarly, California passed a bill in 2019 to end the semi-annual time change, but the state would need the federal government’s permission to do so.
Spring Forward, Fall Back: How Each State Handles Daylight Saving Time
While most states observe DST, the specifics of how it is handled can vary. Below is a breakdown of how each state handles DST:
Alabama:
Observes DST. Clocks are set forward one hour on the second Sunday of March and back on the first Sunday of November.
Alaska:
Observes DST. Clocks are set forward one hour on the second Sunday of March and back on the first Sunday of November.
Arizona:
Most of the state does not observe DST, with the exception of the Navajo Nation, which does set their clocks forward an hour in the spring and back in the fall.
Arkansas:
Observes DST. Clocks are set forward one hour on the second Sunday of March and back on the first Sunday of November.
California:
Observes DST. Clocks are set forward one hour on the second Sunday of March and back on the first Sunday of November. However, the state passed a bill in 2019 to end the semi-annual time change.
Colorado:
Observes DST. Clocks are set forward one hour on the second Sunday of March and back on the first Sunday of November.
Connecticut:
Observes DST. Clocks are set forward one hour on the second Sunday of March and back on the first Sunday of November.
Delaware:
Observes DST. Clocks are set forward one hour on the second Sunday of March and back on the first Sunday of November.
Florida:
Observes DST, but in 2018, passed a bill to adopt year-round DST. However, this change would require federal approval.
Georgia:
Observes DST. Clocks are set forward one hour on the second Sunday of March and back on the first Sunday of November.
Hawaii:
Does not observe DST due to its proximity to the equator and the relatively consistent amount of daylight throughout the year.
Idaho:
Observes DST. Clocks are set forward one hour on the second Sunday of March and back on the first Sunday of November.
Illinois:
Observes DST. Clocks are set forward one hour on the second Sunday of March and back on the first Sunday of November.
Indiana:
Began observing DST in 2006. Prior to that, the state was divided into counties that did or did not observe DST.
Iowa:
Observes DST. Clocks are set forward one hour on the second Sunday of March and back on the first Sunday of November.
Kansas:
Observes DST. Clocks are set forward one hour on the second Sunday of March and back on the first Sunday of November.
Kentucky:
Observes DST. Clocks are set forward one hour on the second Sunday of March and back on the first Sunday of November.
Louisiana:
Observes DST. Clocks are set forward one hour on the second Sunday of March and back on the first Sunday of November.
Maine:
Observes DST. Clocks are set forward one hour on the second Sunday of March and back on the first Sunday of November.
Maryland:
Observes DST. Clocks are set forward one hour on the second Sunday of March and back on the first Sunday of November.
Massachusetts:
Observes DST. Clocks are set forward one hour on the second Sunday of March and back on the first Sunday of November.
Michigan:
Observes DST. Clocks are set forward one hour on the second Sunday of March and back on the first Sunday of November.
Minnesota:
Observes DST. Clocks are set forward one hour on the second Sunday of March and back on the first Sunday of November.
Mississippi:
Observes DST. Clocks are set forward one hour on the second Sunday of March and back on the first Sunday of November.
Missouri:
Observes DST. Clocks are set forward one hour on the second Sunday of March and back on the first Sunday of November.
Montana:
Observes DST. Clocks are set forward one hour on the second Sunday of March and back on the first Sunday of November.
Nebraska:
Observes DST. Clocks are set forward one hour on the second Sunday of March and back on the first Sunday of November.
Nevada:
Observes DST. Clocks are set forward one hour on the second Sunday of March and back on the first Sunday of November.
New Hampshire:
Observes DST. Clocks are set forward one hour on the second Sunday of March and back on the first Sunday of November.
New Jersey:
Observes DST. Clocks are set forward one hour on the second Sunday of March and back on the first Sunday of November.
New Mexico:
Observes DST. Clocks are set forward one hour on the second Sunday of March and back on the first Sunday of November.
New York:
Observes DST. Clocks are set forward one hour on the second Sunday of March and back on the first Sunday of November.
North Carolina:
Observes DST. Clocks are set forward one hour on the second Sunday of March and back on the first Sunday of November.
North Dakota:
Observes DST. Clocks are set forward one hour on the second Sunday of March and back on the first Sunday of November.
Ohio:
Observes DST. Clocks are set forward one hour on the second Sunday of March and back on the first Sunday of November.
Oklahoma:
Observes DST. Clocks are set forward one hour on the second Sunday of March and back on the first Sunday of November.
Oregon:
Observes DST. Clocks are set forward one hour on the second Sunday of March and back on the first Sunday of November.
Pennsylvania:
Observes DST. Clocks are set forward one hour on the second Sunday of March and back on the first Sunday of November.
Rhode Island:
Observes DST. Clocks are set forward one hour on the second Sunday of March and back on the first Sunday of November.
South Carolina:
Observes DST. Clocks are set forward one hour on the second Sunday of March and back on the first Sunday of November.
South Dakota:
Observes DST. Clocks are set forward one hour on the second Sunday of March and back on the first Sunday of November.
Tennessee:
Observes DST. Clocks are set forward one hour on the second Sunday of March and back on the first Sunday of November.
Texas:
Observes DST. Clocks are set forward one hour on the second Sunday of March and back on the first Sunday of November.
Utah:
Observes DST. Clocks are set forward one hour on the second Sunday of March and back on the first Sunday of November.
Vermont:
Observes DST. Clocks are set forward one hour on the second Sunday of March and back on the first Sunday of November.
Virginia:
Observes DST. Clocks are set forward one hour on the second Sunday of March and back on the first Sunday of November.
Washington:
Observes DST. Clocks are set forward one hour on the second Sunday of March and back on the first Sunday of November.
West Virginia:
Observes DST. Clocks are set forward one hour on the second Sunday of March and back on the first Sunday of November.
Wisconsin:
Observes DST. Clocks are set forward one hour on the second Sunday of March and back on the first Sunday of November.
Wyoming:
Observes DST. Clocks are set forward one hour on the second Sunday of March and back on the first Sunday of November.
The History and Future of Daylight Saving Time in the United States
The concept of DST was first introduced in the United States in the early 20th century and was officially adopted during World War I as a way to conserve energy. However, DST was not consistently observed until the Uniform Time Act of 1966, which established a standardized protocol for DST across the country.
Since then, there have been various proposals to change DST policy. Some have suggested extending DST to year-round, while others have called for it to be abolished altogether. In 2019, the U.S. Congress introduced the “Sunshine Protection Act,” which would make DST permanent across the country, but the bill has yet to be passed into law.