Among the states in the United States, what three do not observe Daylight Saving Time? There are three states, namely California, Hawaii, and Arizona that do not follow this timetable.
Arizona
Unlike the rest of the US, Arizona is one of the few states that does not observe Daylight Saving Time. The reason for the lack of DST in Arizona is due to the state's hot climate. Most of Arizona has plenty of sunlight year-round.
When the Uniform Time Act was passed, Arizona was exempted from the change. Many Arizonans believed that Daylight Saving Time was unnecessary. They also argued that it produced no benefits. During World War I, Daylight Saving Time was introduced to help save fuel. However, Arizona's decision does not apply to Indian territories within the state.
After World War II, the United States again adopted Daylight Saving Time. Many communities along the state's western border continued to observe Pacific Daylight Time. But the rest of the state returned to Mountain Standard Time.
California
Changing the state's time standard to daylight saving time would benefit the state's agriculture industry. It's also said to help cut back on energy usage.
However, the California State Legislature hasn't done much to pass a measure to put the state on permanent standard time. And that's despite the fact that the federal government has been slow to act on a similar bill.
There's also the question of whether it's even feasible to change California's time standard to daylight saving time year-round. After all, it could mean a disruption in commerce between California and other states.
The National Conference of State Legislatures tracks legislation related to time-change. And it's been a while since any of the 350 bills introduced in nearly every state since 2015 have passed. However, the Sunshine Protection Act, proposed by Senator Marco Rubio, is still awaiting a hearing in the House of Representatives.
Arkansas
Changing clocks twice a year for daylight saving time has never been popular among farmers. But the benefits of changing the clocks are clear: they save energy and prevent traffic accidents. Studies have also shown that it can affect health, but the effects are debated.
A number of states have taken action on the issue. California and Florida have bills that require Congress to change federal law to allow for the change. The Missouri Legislature has also proposed a permanent daylight saving time bill. However, the Senate hasn't voted on the measure yet.
Arkansas has tried to make the switch, but hasn't been successful. A bill introduced by a Republican, House Bill 1017, was never approved in the legislature. However, Rep. Johnny Rye may resubmit it later this year.
Hawaii
Unlike most other states, Hawaii does not observe Daylight Saving Time. In fact, the only other state in the United States that does not is Arizona.
Hawaii is located near the equator and receives enough sunlight throughout the day. Because of this, it doesn't need to change clocks and lose an hour of daylight each year.
However, a few states and even overseas territories do not observe daylight saving time. Hawaii, Arizona, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands do not.
The Uniform Time Act of 1966 allows states to opt out of Daylight Saving Time, and even allow them to use an advanced time. Hawaii opted out of the Daylight Saving Time portion of the Uniform Time Act in 1967. The Uniform Time Act was passed as a way to make the most of the energy that was available during the first World War.
South Dakota, Tennessee and Texas
Several states including South Dakota, Tennessee, and Texas do not observe Daylight Saving Time. In addition to those states, other states and territories do not participate in the practice. Some studies have shown that switching clocks can result in more car accidents, pedestrian accidents, and childhood obesity. Several studies also show that the practice can have negative effects on the circadian rhythm, health, and energy use.
States that do not participate in Daylight Saving Time must still obey the federal law. This law permits states to exempt themselves from DST, but it does not allow them to remain on the time year-round. In order to change the time, states must seek congressional approval.
In addition to South Dakota, Tennessee, and Texas, other states and territories that do not observe Daylight Saving Time include Alaska, Hawaii, North Dakota, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. In some cases, states must also seek executive action from their governors. In other cases, states must enact legislation.
