U.S. Clocks Fall Back 1 Hour on Nov. 1 as Congress Stalls on DST Overhaul

Q: Why can states keep permanent standard time now, but not permanent daylight saving time without a federal change?

States can keep permanent standard time now because federal law already allows it, but they cannot adopt permanent daylight saving time on their own because federal law does not permit that. The key law is the Uniform Time Act of 1966. It created a national framework for when daylight saving time begins and ends. Under that law, a state may exempt itself from daylight saving time and stay on standard time year-round, which is what Hawaii and most of Arizona do. But if a state participates in daylight saving time, it must follow the federally set start and end dates. That means a state cannot simply decide to stay on daylight saving time through the winter. Doing so would conflict with federal rules, and federal law controls here because timekeeping across states affects interstate travel, commerce, broadcasting and transportation. Congress set one national system to avoid a patchwork of neighboring states or cities using different clocks. This is why many states have passed laws or resolutions supporting year-round daylight saving time only if Congress changes the law. Those measures are essentially conditional and cannot take effect unless Congress amends the Uniform Time Act or passes a law such as the Sunshine Protection Act. So the distinction is legal, not practical: permanent standard time is already an allowed opt-out under federal law, while permanent daylight saving time requires Congress to authorize it.

2 articles · Updated · USA TODAY · Jul 31

2 a.m. local time on Nov. 1, 2026 marks the end of daylight saving time, sending most Americans back to standard time and moving clocks from 2 a.m. to 1 a.m.
Congress has not changed federal law, so the twice-yearly switch remains in place even after the House passed a bill in July to make daylight saving time permanent.
Donald Trump is lobbying senators to back that measure, but Senate Majority Leader John Thune has questioned whether it has enough votes to clear the chamber.
Several places already stay on standard time year-round, including Hawaii, most of Arizona, Puerto Rico and other U.S. territories.
Polls show broad fatigue with clock changes: 62% backed ending them in a 2023 YouGov survey, while a 2025 Gallup poll found 54% wanted daylight saving time ended.