When does daylight saving time begin this year?
Sunday marks the day to remember to ‘fall back’
It’s that time of year again – daylight saving time ends on Nov. 7, prompting everyone who wants to be on time to turn their manual clocks back an hour – and often, check the batteries in smoke detectors, while they’re at it.
Twice a year, we grudgingly change our clocks and wonder why we’re still making this change in 2021. The U.S. Department of Transportation says daylight saving time saves energy, prevents traffic injuries and reduces crime. But it also comes with health consequences from upending our schedules.
But wait – didn’t Tennessee pass a law to adopt daylight saving yearround? Are we still changing our clocks back the first Sunday in November or not?
The short answer is: Yes, you still need to change your clocks back. Here’s why.
Tennessee passed law in 2019 mandating observance of daylight saving time year-round
Gov. Bill Lee signed a bill into law in May 2019 that established daylight saving time as the standard time in Tennessee and would scrap the twice-annual time shift.
However, the state law only goes into effect if Congress first passes a federal law allowing states to observe daylight saving year-round.
Tennessee one of several states awaiting congressional approval of daylight saving time adoption
In recent years, several other states, including Alabama, Mississippi, George and Minnesota, have passed similar laws to adopt daylight saving time permanently.
Hawaii and most of Arizona already do not observe daylight saving time, opting instead for permanent standard time since the 1960s.
Where the Sunshine Protection Act of 2021, Daylight Act stand
Bills allowing for the change to permanent daylight saving time were introduced in both the U.S. House and Senate earlier this year.
The Sunshine Protection Act of 2021, also known as H.R.69, was introduced in the House on Jan. 4 by Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-FL. The bill has 23 co-sponsors, including Rep. Jerry Carl, R-AL.
It was referred first to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, who then referred it to the Subcommittee on Consumer Protection and Commerce on Feb. 2.
A second bill, the Daylight Act or H.R. 214, was also introduced on Jan. 5 and was also referred Feb. 2 to the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Consumer Protection and Commerce.
An identical bill, S.623, was introduced to the Senate by Sen. Marco Rubio, R-FL, on March 9. It was referred to the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation committee on March 9.
So, in short, it’s time to mark your calendar, because your clock will be changing at 2 a.m. on Nov. 7, like it or not.
Gabe Hauari is a digital producer for the USA Today Network.