You wake up, and for a split second, the world feels off. It’s too bright. Or maybe it’s way too dark. Then you remember—the clocks changed. We’ve been doing this dance since World War I, yet every single year, millions of people flock to search engines asking is daylight saving time ending for good this time?
The short answer? No. Not yet.
Despite all the headlines about the Sunshine Protection Act and state-level rebellions, most of North America and Europe is still stuck in the "spring forward, fall back" loop. It’s a polarizing topic. Some people love that extra hour of evening light for summer BBQs, while others feel like a zombie for three weeks every March. Honestly, the science suggests the zombies might have a point.
Why the Sunshine Protection Act is stuck in limbo
You probably heard about the Sunshine Protection Act. It was this rare moment of bipartisan agreement where the U.S. Senate actually passed something by unanimous consent in 2022. The goal was simple: make Daylight Saving Time (DST) permanent. No more switching.
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But then it hit a wall. Specifically, the House of Representatives.
Why? Because making daylight saving time ending a permanent thing is actually way more complicated than it sounds. If we stay on "summer time" all year, kids in northern states like Michigan or Washington would be waiting for the school bus in pitch-black darkness until 9:00 AM in the winter. Safety experts freaked out. Sleep scientists at Harvard and the Mayo Clinic also rang the alarm, arguing that our bodies are biologically wired for Standard Time, not the artificial "shifted" time of DST.
Senator Marco Rubio has been the face of this push, arguing that more light in the evening reduces crime and boosts the economy. People shop more when it’s sunny. They play golf. They spend money. But the bill has stalled out repeatedly because we can't agree on which time to keep.
The health toll of the "Time Jump"
It sounds dramatic, but the clock switch actually kills people.
Research published in the Journal of Clinical Medicine shows a measurable spike in heart attacks and strokes in the days immediately following the "spring forward" shift. We lose an hour of sleep, and our internal circadian rhythms get tossed into a blender. It’s not just about being tired; it’s a systemic shock to the cardiovascular system.
Then there are the roads.
Fatigue leads to more accidents. The University of Colorado Boulder found that fatal car crashes jump by about 6% during the workweek following the spring transition. We are essentially a sleep-deprived society performing a massive, forced biological experiment on ourselves twice a year.
Standard Time—what we use in the winter—is actually much closer to the sun’s natural cycle. When the sun is directly overhead at noon, our bodies function better. When we force "Daylight Saving" year-round, we are essentially living in permanent jet lag. Dr. Beth Malow, a neurologist at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, has been vocal about this: she argues that permanent Standard Time is the only healthy way to end the clock-changing madness.
How different states are trying to go rogue
While the federal government drags its feet, states are taking matters into their own hands. Sorta.
At least 19 states have passed some form of legislation or resolution to stay on permanent DST. From Florida to Washington, the will is there. The problem is a pesky law from 1966 called the Uniform Time Act.
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Under current federal law, a state can opt out of Daylight Saving Time and stay on Standard Time all year (like Arizona and Hawaii do). However, a state is not allowed to stay on Daylight Saving Time all year without a literal Act of Congress. So, California voters can say they want permanent summer hours all they want, but until the folks in D.C. sign off, they are legally stuck with the status quo.
Mexico actually made a big move recently. In 2022, they mostly abolished DST, except for some border towns that need to stay in sync with the U.S. for trade. It was a bold "we're done with this" move that many Americans watched with envy.
Misconceptions that just won't die
Let’s clear something up: Farmers do not want this.
For some reason, there's a persistent myth that DST was created for farmers. It’s the opposite. Farmers were the primary group opposing it back in 1918. Cows don’t care what the clock says; they need to be milked at the same time every day. If the sun rises an hour later, the farmer has to work an extra hour in the dark to get their goods to market on time.
The real reason we have it? Energy conservation during world wars. The idea was that if people have more sunlight in the evening, they’ll use less artificial light at home. Modern studies show the energy savings are basically negligible now, especially with LED bulbs and the massive power draw of air conditioning.
What happens next?
If you're wondering is daylight saving time ending in 2026, the answer for most of the U.S. and Canada remains "no." You’ll still be hunting for that one manual clock on your microwave or oven twice a year.
The debate has shifted from "should we stop changing" to "which time do we keep?" This is where the gridlock happens. Business interests want the extra hour of evening light (Permanent DST). Health experts and parents of school-aged children want the morning light (Permanent Standard Time). Until those two groups reach a compromise, the status quo wins by default.
Actionable steps for the next clock change
Since we are stuck with it for the foreseeable future, you might as well mitigate the damage. You don't have to just suffer through the "time hangover."
- Phase it in: Three days before the "spring forward" jump, go to bed 15-20 minutes earlier each night. It’s a lot easier on the heart than a sudden 60-minute shift.
- Seek morning sun: The moment you wake up after a time change, get outside. Natural light hits the melanopsin receptors in your eyes and tells your brain to reset its internal clock.
- Watch the caffeine: Avoid the temptation to double up on espresso on the Monday following the change. It’ll just mess up your sleep further on Monday night, extending the misery.
- Check your tech: Most smartphones and computers update automatically, but your car and older appliances won't. Do a "clock sweep" on Saturday night so you aren't confused on Sunday morning.
- Audit your state’s status: Keep an eye on local ballots. If you have strong feelings about permanent Standard vs. permanent DST, contact your representative. They actually do listen to this specific issue because it’s a "quality of life" matter that affects every voter.
The transition remains a relic of an era of coal lamps and world wars. While the legislative wheels turn slowly, being aware of the physiological impact is the best way to handle the inevitable shift. We are essentially waiting for a consensus that may not come for years, so for now, keep those "fall back" and "spring forward" dates marked on your calendar.