All the States With Bills To Scrap Daylight Saving Time-Mapped

Each year, most Americans adjust their clocks twice as part of the daylight saving time (DST) system, a practice that has increasingly come under scrutiny as several states explore abandoning the seasonal time change altogether.

More than a dozen states are currently considering legislation that would move them to permanent standard time, eliminating the seasonal clock change.

In the United States, the daylight saving time period begins at 2 a.m. local time on the second Sunday in March. In 2026, that shift took place on March 8, when clocks moved forward one hour to 3 a.m. The DST period then concludes at 2 a.m. local time on the first Sunday in November. In 2026, that end date falls on November 1, when clocks are turned back to 1 a.m., creating an extra hour in the day.

Daylight saving time was formally introduced in the United States in 1918 and is observed in most parts of the country. There are, however, notable exceptions. Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and most of Arizona do not observe daylight saving time. Arizona's Navajo Indian territories are the exception within the state and do observe the seasonal clock change. Historically, local jurisdictions were allowed to decide whether they would observe daylight saving time and when to implement it if they chose to do so.

The Uniform Time Act of 1966 later standardized the system, setting the rules for daylight saving time and requiring all participating areas to switch clocks on the same dates. That legislation also allows states to decide, through legislation, whether they want to observe daylight saving time at all, according to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

In recent years, that provision has prompted renewed legislative efforts across the country. Those states where bills for scrapping DST are being considered include Alaska, California, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, and Vermont. In some states, the proposals have been carried over from previous legislative sessions.

In Virginia, a bill that would put standard time in place year‑round was passed by the state Senate in February, and last week, the House Rules committee voted to move the bill to the 2027 session. Virginia's proposal would only take effect if Washington, D.C., and Maryland adopt the same approach. Officials in Washington, D.C. have considered similar legislation, while no bills around seasonal time changes have been introduced in Maryland during the current session.

Illinois lawmakers are also weighing a comparable proposal, though that bill is contingent on Indiana, Iowa, Missouri, and Wisconsin making the same move. Missouri and Wisconsin legislators are currently considering permanent standard time bills, while Iowa is considering making daylight saving time permanent.

Additional year‑round standard time proposals are under consideration in Minnesota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Washington.

Supporters of the DST system argue that it can save energy, as more people may spend time outdoors in the evenings during spring and summer rather than using electricity at home. However, the NIST notes that there is ongoing debate about how much energy is actually conserved as a result.

Do you have a question about daylight saving time? Let us know via life@newsweek.com.

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This story was originally published March 10, 2026 at 10:55 AM.