It’s that time of year again (literally). Don’t forget to set your clocks back an hour before Nov. 5, 2023.
But what actually is daylight savings and where did it come from?
What is it?
Daylight saving time involves advancing the clocks by one hour during the summer months to extend the duration of daylight into the evening — in the fall, we set it back. In the U.S. and certain neighboring countries, daylight saving time will conclude on Nov. 5 at 2 a.m.
Although Germany and Austria implemented daylight saving time in 1916, it's a lesser-known fact that a small group of Canadians actually adopted it eight years earlier. On July 1, 1908, the people of Port Arthur, Ontario, which is now known as Thunder Bay, set their clocks forward by one hour, marking the commencement of the world's inaugural daylight savings period.
The concept became popular in World War One, as European nations sought ways to conserve fuel. Germany became the pioneer in adopting daylight saving time, with the U.S. following suit in 1918. Daylight saving time underwent various adaptations until the U.S. established standardization in 1966 through the Uniform Time Act. This legislation permits states to opt out of daylight saving time but does not allow them to remain on it permanently.
A common misconception is that the U.S. embraced daylight saving time to assist farmers, but in reality, many farmers oppose the practice due to its disruptive effect on their schedules.
Do all states observe it?
No, Hawaii and Arizona, except for the Navajo Nation, do not participate in daylight saving time. American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands also adhere to standard time throughout the year.
Although daylight saving time is prevalent in many parts of the U.S., 19 states enacted laws to adopt daylight saving time permanently if Congress grants permission.
Will it end?
Maybe… in the federal government, there is an initiative to enact the Sunshine Protection Act, aiming to establish daylight saving time as a year-round standard. Introduced by a bipartisan group of senators in 2022, the act received unanimous approval. However, it encountered a roadblock in the U.S. House of Representatives, as lawmakers were divided over the choice between permanent daylight saving time or retaining standard time.
This year, the same group of senators reintroduced the bill, and it was referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation for examination. To become law, the bill must navigate through the Senate and the House of Representatives before being signed by President Joe Biden.
