Spring ahead this Sunday

Spring ahead this Sunday

Daylight Saving Time starts at 2 a.m. on March 12. You know the drill: Set clocks ahead one hour when going to bed the night before (unless you’re a night owl and will be up when the change comes).

DST will be in effect officially until Nov. 5, when we switch back to Standard Time effective 2 a.m.

As has often been the case in recent years, there is debate again about whether to continue with the twice-yearly switches between Daylight Saving Time and Standard Time. In the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, legislation was introduced again March 2 by Sen. Marco Rubio and Rep. Vern Buchanan, both of Florida, that would make DST permanent year-round. No more “fall back” or “spring ahead.”

The legislation also was before Congress in 2022 and was passed by the Senate. It didn’t reach a vote in the House, however, expiring there.

Proponents of DST-only say the longer daylight promotes safety and active lifestyles. Opponents of it claim there are financial costs and less productivity.

Currently, Arizona and Hawaii are the only states that don’t utilize DST. They go with Standard Time, as do more than half of the countries worldwide.