Spring ahead

With the first day of Spring right around the corner, this weekend marks the beginning of Daylight Saving Time on Sunday, March 12 at 2 a.m.

Thanks to technology, most of our cell phones will make the leap on their own. Don’t forget to set all your other clocks ahead one hour before you go to bed Saturday night or change them Sunday morning.

Under legislation unanimously passed by the Senate last March, known as the Sunshine Protection Act, the seasonal changing of clocks would have effectively been eliminated in the U.S.

Despite initial enthusiasm from some House members, a matching bill introduced in the U.S. House did not pass or make it to a vote before the 117th Congress officially ended on Jan. 3, 2023.

That means the legislation needed to be reintroduced during the current Congress in 2023. So, on March 2, ahead of Daylight Saving Time, U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) reintroduced the Sunshine Protection Act of 2023 for the 118th Congress. The legislation would end the antiquated practice of changing clocks twice a year. U.S. Representative Vern Buchanan (R-FL) introduced companion legislation in the House.

But the bill will still need to pass both the Senate and House, and receive President Biden’s signature, to become law.

A bill passed and signed into law by Governor Gordon in 2020 would have Wyoming observe Mountain Daylight Time, the time observed in summer, year-round. However, the law would only be enacted if the U.S. Congress, along with four other neighboring states, also enacted similar bills.

Hawaii and Arizona – except for the Navajo Nation – are the only U.S. states that don’t observe daylight saving time.

We want to hear from our readers on this issue. Are you a Supporter of the Sunshine Protection Act? Drop us an email at news@thermopir.com to let us know your thoughts.