Trip Sheet: Is It Time for Daylight Saving Time to Clock Out?

Daylight Saving Time continues to generate controversy across the country, with at least 30 states considering legislation or resolutions in 2024 – and the proposals are torn between ditching the extra hour or keeping it.

Many are pending, while two calling for a move to permanent standard time – in Maine and Virginia – have failed. Here’s a quick rundown, state-by-state:

• Alaska: Would exempt Alaska from Daylight Saving Time if federal law is amended by Dec. 31, 2031, to allow year-round DST observation. Both propose exempting the state from DST in favor of permanent standard time.
• California: Would repeal DST and mandates year-round standard time, overturning Prop. 7's provisions.
• Georgia: Would exempt Georgia from DST, moving to permanent standard time. This change hinges on similar exemptions in North Carolina, South Carolina, and certain areas of Florida and Tennessee.
• Idaho: Would exempt Idaho from DST once two of the neighboring states - Montana, Utah, Wyoming, Oregon, Washington, or California - do the same.
• Iowa: Would establish DST as the official time throughout the year in Iowa.
• Illinois: HB 5114 seeks to exempt Illinois from DST in favor of permanent standard time, contingent on similar actions by Indiana, Iowa, Missouri, and Wisconsin. HB 1192 proposes adopting DST as the year-round standard time.
• Indiana: HB 1289 would exempt Indiana from DST, allowing communities to choose between Eastern or Central Standard Time. HR 10 and HCR 16 focus on urging Congress to make DST permanent and requesting U.S. Department of Transportation hearings on Indiana's time zone, respectively.
• Kentucky: Advocates for an exemption from DST in favor of permanent standard time and urging Congress to allow states to adopt DST permanently.
• Massachusetts: Multiple bills propose the adoption of permanent Atlantic Standard Time or Eastern Standard Time, contingent upon similar actions by neighboring states, or aim to establish permanent standard time to promote health.
• Michigan: Advocates for year-round Daylight Saving Time, contingent on congressional authorization and similar actions by Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.
• Minnesota: Would recognize federal standard time year-round from 2024.
• Missouri: Would establish a pact for new standard time and exempt the state from DST and prohibit DST unless federal law changes.
• Mississippi: Proposes DST as the year-round standard time if federal law allows.
• Nebraska: Urges Congress to reevaluate the Central Time Zone boundary and advocates for year-round DST after federal authorization.
• New Hampshire: Focused on exempting the state from DST and advocating for year-round Atlantic Standard Time in collaboration with New England states.
• New Jersey: Would permanently observe DST pending federal law changes.
• New York: Would explore the effects of opting out of DST and propose year-round standard time or Atlantic Standard Time, contingent on neighboring states' actions.
• North Carolina: Seeks to adopt DST year-round pending congressional approval.
• Ohio: Urges Congress to make DST the permanent standard time.
• Oklahoma: Considers permanent observation of DST contingent on actions by Texas and federal law changes.
• Oregon: Passed the Senate, abolishing the time change and maintaining standard time year-round.
• Pennsylvania: Focuses on adopting Eastern Standard Time or Atlantic Standard Time without DST.
• South Carolina: Aims for permanent Eastern Standard Time without further adjustments. South Dakota: Pending, Outlines the official standard time based on federal law changes regarding DST.
• Tennessee: Could exempt the state from DST pending regional consensus.
• Vermont: Advocates for year-round Daylight Saving Time or Eastern Standard Time contingent on actions by neighboring states.
• Washington: Would exempt the state from DST in favor of year-round Pacific Standard Time.
• West Virginia: Proposes eliminating DST from July 1, 2024.

How do you think the potential shift to permanent Daylight Saving Time or standard time would impact our daily lives and routines, especially considering the divided approach across various states?

Reach out to School Bus Fleet Executive Editor Wes Platt at wes.platt@bobit.com.