Most of the United States begins Daylight Saving Time at 2:00 a.m. on the second Sunday in March and reverts to standard time on the first Sunday in November.
Officially, the time change occurs each designated Sunday at 2:00 A.M. However, most of us reset clocks before we go to bed so that we wake up and know the correct time.
Most WiFi-enable computers, smartphones, and many modern clocks (analog or digital) have a setting to automatically reset the time twice a year. These are great to avoid unnecessary or embarrassing early or late arrivals!
Here are the next expected time changes:
- Spring ahead to Pacific Daylight Time: March 12, 2023
- Fall back to Pacific Standard Time: November 5, 2023
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Spring Foreward 1 Hour photo by karenr – DepositPhotos.com
Washington State Daylight Saving Time changes
Washington State desires to remain on daylight time permanently. Note that remaining on Pacific Standard Time (PST) would not require congressional permission. However, past efforts to adopt permanent PST were unpopular because the sun would rise in summer as early as 4 a.m.
Washington State legislature passed house bill HB 1196 in April 2019 to set the time of the State of Washington permanently to Pacific Daylight Time (PDT) throughout the calendar year, as determined by reference to coordinated universal time. The House voted 90-6 and Senate voting 46-2, indicating broad support for the bill. Washington State Governor Jay Inslee approved the measure in May 2019.
However, the U.S. Department of Transportation regulations require that a state get permission from the U.S. Congress to make the change to PDT (versus PST) permanent. Read more about the Congressional approval process next. Hoo-boy, it’s kinduva doozy.
Bills before the U.S. Congress related to Daylight Saving Time could take years to pass – DepositPhotos.com
U.S. Congress Daylight Saving Time legislature
A bill must be passed by both the House and Senate in identical form and then be signed by the President to become law. Congressional Bills to stay on DST have appeared often on the legislative agenda. Note that U.S. Congress Bill numbers restart every two years. That means if you search, there will be different bills with the same number. So, you also need to know when the bill was introduced.
Several states, including Washington State have passed bills in favor of permanent DST. Currently, it appears that a national change, rather than state-by-state will be made as desire for the change is increasing across the country. However, since 2015, dozens of federal bills and resolutions have been introduced with no meaningful action or approval (more info: Search GovTrack.us for “daylight”). Here is information on some of the latest Congressional Bills about daylight savings (as of February 28, 2023):
- Daylight Act (H.R. 364) – GovTrack.us: To allow States to elect to observe daylight savings time for the duration of the year, and for other purposes. Introduced Jan 13, 2023, 118th Congress (2023–2025) by Chris Stewart (R), Representative for Utah’s 2nd congressional district. This bill is in the first stage of the legislative process. 1% chance of being enacted according to Skopos Labs.
- DAYLIGHT Act (2021; 117th Congress H.R. 5906) – GovTrack.us. To allow States to elect to observe year-round daylight saving time, and for other purposes. Introduced Nov 5, 2021, 117th Congress (2021–2023) by Ralph Norman (R), Representative for South Carolina’s 5th congressional district. Died in a previous Congress. Although this bill was not enacted, its provisions could have become law by being included in another bill. It is common for legislative text to be introduced concurrently in multiple bills (called companion bills), re-introduced in subsequent sessions of Congress in new bills, or added to larger bills (sometimes called omnibus bills).
- Daylight Act (2021; 117th Congress H.R. 214) – GovTrack.us: To allow States to elect to observe daylight savings time for the duration of the year, and for other purposes. Introduced Jan 5, 2021, 117th Congress (2021–2023) by Chris Stewart (R), Representative for Utah’s 2nd congressional district. Republican. Died in a previous Congress. Although this bill was not enacted, its provisions could have become law by being included in another bill. It is common for legislative text to be introduced concurrently in multiple bills (called companion bills), re-introduced in subsequent sessions of Congress in new bills, or added to larger bills (sometimes called omnibus bills).
- Daylight Act (2019; 116th Congress H.R. 1601) – GovTrack.us would permit states to make any changes they wish to whether and how they observe Daylight Savings Time, which they are currently prohibited from doing without federal permission. Introduced Mar 7, 2019, 116th Congress (2019–2021) by Rob Bishop (R), Representative for Utah’s 1st congressional district. Died in a previous Congress. Although this bill was not enacted, its provisions could have become law by being included in another bill. It is common for legislative text to be introduced concurrently in multiple bills (called companion bills), re-introduced in subsequent sessions of Congress in new bills, or added to larger bills (sometimes called omnibus bills).
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Famous clock sign at the entrance to Pike Place Market – 2010 photo by Carole Cancler
Street clocks in downtown Seattle
Going roughly from north to south:
- Belltown Billiards, 90 Blanchard St, Seattle, WA 98121
- Bergman Luggage Sign, 1901 3rd Ave (at Stewart St), Seattle, WA 98101
- Century Square, 1501 4th Ave, Seattle, WA 98101
- Tiffany & Co. at Pacific Place, 600 Pine St, Seattle, WA 98101
- Pike Place Market, Pike Place and Pike Street, Seattle, WA 98101 (see photo above)
- Bill Whipple’s Question Mark Clock at 5th and Pine, Seattle, WA 98101
- Ben Bridge Jeweler, 1432 4th Ave, Seattle, WA 98101
- King Street Station, 303 S Jackson St, Seattle, WA 98101
Find many more Seattle street clocks at Seattle Clock Walk, produced by local engineering manager Rob Ketcherside. Rob’s extensive list of clocks, with maps, includes clocks in downtown Seattle and across the city, on building facades, as well as street clocks. Fascinating stuff. Rob researches local Seattle history, so be sure to check out his Rob’s blog and his book Amazon: “Lost Seattle” by Rob Rob Ketcherside.
Spring Foreward 1 Hour photo by karenr – DepositPhotos.com
History of Daylight Saving Time
Daylight Saving Time (DST) is the practice of setting the clocks forward one hour from standard time during the warmer parts of the year (beginning in spring), and back again in the colder parts (beginning in fall). This change gives more daylight to evenings (stays light later) and less to mornings (stays dark later). DST is practiced in over 70 countries worldwide, although the beginning and end dates vary from one place to another.
Here’s a brief timeline of daylight savings time in the United States:
- In 1916, daylight saving was first used in the U.S. by President Woodrow Wilson when he introduced “Fast Time” as a cost-saving measure during World War I.
- From 1942-1945, Franklin D. Roosevelt implemented the practice during World War II. Because of this, DST was also referred to as “War Time” and standard time to “Peace Time”.
- After WWII ended, the practice was used inconsistently throughout the U.S., causing confusion, especially in the transportation and broadcasting industries.
- In 1966, the Uniform Time Act of 1966 established that DST would begin on the last Sunday of April and end on the last Sunday of October. The practice was revised several times over the decades.
- In 2007, the current DST schedule was introduced and follows the Energy Policy Act of 2005.
- Now, DST starts on the second Sunday in March and ends on the first Sunday in November. However, states still had the ability to be exempt from DST by passing a state ordinance.
- In the U.S., Arizona and Hawaiʻi do not observe DST.
Controversy over Daylight Saving Time
Daylight Saving Time is controversial.
Some complain that the dark winter mornings endanger lives, especially school children, because people (of all ages) leave home in the morning when it is still dark. Studies show that there is an increase in road accidents as people adjust to the time change. There are also reports of an increase in heart attacks when time changes occur.
Proponents of DST say it makes better use of natural daylight, conserves energy spent on artificial light, decreases road accidents by ensuring roads are lit naturally during the hours with most traffic, and boosts the economy because people stay out later and spend more money on activities like festivals, shopping and concerts.
Daylight Saving Time (DST) is controversial – DepositPhotos.com
Calendar of upcoming events
The following calendar lists upcoming classes, workshops, and tours.
Sunday, October 1, 2023
Monday, October 2, 2023
Tuesday, October 3, 2023
Wednesday, October 4, 2023
Thursday, October 5, 2023
Friday, October 6, 2023
Saturday, October 7, 2023
Sunday, October 8, 2023
Monday, October 9, 2023
Tuesday, October 10, 2023
Wednesday, October 11, 2023
Thursday, October 12, 2023
Friday, October 13, 2023
Saturday, October 14, 2023
Sunday, October 15, 2023
Monday, October 16, 2023
Tuesday, October 17, 2023
Wednesday, October 18, 2023
Thursday, October 19, 2023
Friday, October 20, 2023
Saturday, October 21, 2023
Sunday, October 22, 2023
Monday, October 23, 2023
Tuesday, October 24, 2023
Wednesday, October 25, 2023
Thursday, October 26, 2023
Friday, October 27, 2023
Saturday, October 28, 2023
Sunday, October 29, 2023
Monday, October 30, 2023
Tuesday, October 31, 2023
Wednesday, November 1, 2023
Thursday, November 2, 2023
Friday, November 3, 2023
Saturday, November 4, 2023
Sunday, November 5, 2023
Monday, November 6, 2023
Tuesday, November 7, 2023
Wednesday, November 8, 2023
Thursday, November 9, 2023
Friday, November 10, 2023
Saturday, November 11, 2023
Sunday, November 12, 2023
Monday, November 13, 2023
Tuesday, November 14, 2023
Wednesday, November 15, 2023
Thursday, November 16, 2023
Friday, November 17, 2023
Saturday, November 18, 2023
Sunday, November 19, 2023
Monday, November 20, 2023
Tuesday, November 21, 2023
Wednesday, November 22, 2023
Thursday, November 23, 2023
Friday, November 24, 2023
Saturday, November 25, 2023
Sunday, November 26, 2023
Monday, November 27, 2023
Tuesday, November 28, 2023
Wednesday, November 29, 2023
But wait, there’s more!
- Besides clocks, here are 11 Puget Sound lighthouses you can visit for free.
- And enjoy these 93 Free attractions around the Puget Sound region.
- Plus our big list of free & cheap tours around the Puget Sound region.
- Finally, here’s a list of 101+ always free things to do for fun.
- And here’s a list of 101+ always free things to do for fun.
- More free and cheap things to do every day: Greater Seattle on the Cheap event calendar.
- Still more ideas for frugal fun: Greater Seattle on the Cheap home page.
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