3.07.26 – Daylight Saving Time 2026: It’s Time to Spring Forward

Daylight Saving Time 2026:
It’s Time to Spring Forward

Saturday, March 7, 2026

Daylight Saving Time (DST) starts for most of the U.S. on Sunday, March 8, at 2:00 AM local time.

As of early 2026, efforts to eliminate the twice-yearly clock change in the United States remain unresolved in Congress. The bipartisan Sunshine Protection Act of 2025 (H.R.139 and S.29), introduced by Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL-16) and Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL), would make daylight saving time permanent nationwide, ending the practice of switching between standard time and daylight saving time each year. Similar legislation has been introduced multiple times in recent years, including a version that passed the Senate unanimously in 2022 but stalled in the House. Under current federal law, Congress must approve any nationwide change to the country’s time system before states can adopt permanent daylight saving time.

A separate proposal introduced in February 2026, called the Daylight Act of 2026, proposes a compromise approach. Introduced by Representative Greg Steube of Florida (R-FL-17), the bill would move clocks forward by 30 minutes from current standard time and eliminate seasonal clock changes altogether. Supporters argue that a half-hour shift could provide some of the benefits of later evening daylight while avoiding the disruption caused by changing clocks twice a year. However, lawmakers and experts remain divided over whether permanent daylight saving time, permanent standard time, or a compromise system would be best for health, safety, and economic activity.

Under existing law, states are allowed to opt out of daylight saving time entirely and remain on standard time year-round, but they cannot adopt permanent daylight saving time without congressional approval. Several places already follow this approach, including most of Arizona (except the Navajo Nation), Hawaii, and U.S. territories such as Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. For the rest of the country, daylight saving time continues to follow the federal schedule: clocks move forward on the second Sunday in March and move back on the first Sunday in November. This year, daylight saving time will end on Sunday, November 1, when clocks “fall back” one hour.

In Solidarity,

Allie Malis
Lori Vitto-Glattly
APFA Government Affairs Representatives
[email protected]