Daylight Saving Time Begins

Daylight Saving Time Begins History

Daylight Saving Time is the practice of setting clocks ahead by one hour from Standard Time during the warm parts of the year, so that evenings have more daylight and mornings have less. The primary purpose of this exercise is to make better use of daylight and conserve energy.

Proposed by George Vernon Hudson in 1895, the concept was not adopted until World War I as a way to conserve coal. The US officially instituted daylight saving time in 1918. However, the idea became largely unpopular, leading to its repeal in 1919. It was not until during World War II that the US saw the return of Daylight Saving Time, after which individual states and communities were allowed to choose whether to observe it or not until a federal law was passed in 1966 standardizing the start and end dates.

Today, most areas of the United States observe Daylight Saving Time, where the time is set forward 1 hour to extend evening daylight and reduce the need for artificial lighting. It begins on the second Sunday of March and ends on the first Sunday of November, providing an extra hour of evening light during the warmer months of the year.

Top 5 Facts for Daylight Saving Time Begins in 2026

• On March 16th, 2022, the U.S. Senate passed a bill titled the Sunshine Protection Act. The bill makes daylight savings time the new, permanent standard time, which takes effect in November 2023.
• Benjamin Franklin first proposed the idea of DST in 1784. He wrote An Economical Project for the Journal of Paris, wherein he discussed the cost of oil for lamps as well as working while it was dark, and sleeping while it was day.
• Daylight Savings Time changes at 2:00 a.m. This time is selected in an effort to provide the least amount of inconvenience to businesses and citizens.
• DST always begins on the second Sunday in March, and ends on the first Sunday in November.
• Hawaii and Arizona do not use DST. Only part of Indiana used it, but since 2006, it's used throughout the whole state.

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Top things to do for the beginning of daylight saving time

• Move your clocks forward 1 hour before bed on Saturday night before the Daylight Saving Time day in March.
• Go to bed an hour earlier Saturday night before Daylight Savings Time to catch up on sleep.
• Get outside and enjoy the extra hour of daylight.
• Replace the batteries in the smoke alarm and carbon dioxide monitors.
• Clean out the medicine cabinet. Dispose of all medicines properly.