Time to move your clocks ahead

Are you ready to spring forward?

Mar 4, 2025- Much of the United States, including Mississippi and the Mid-South, will be moving to Daylight Saving Time at 2 a.m. Sunday morning, March 9. 

The idea of moving clocks ahead one hour seasonally to make better use of the daylight dates as far back as Benjamin Franklin, who in 1784 satirically suggested in a Letter to the Editor of The Journal of Paris that people could save candles by waking up earlier.  

Daylight Saving Time (DST) has a long and somewhat controversial history, with origins dating back more than a century with discussion about it continuing today.  

DST was first officially implemented during World War I, as Germany first adopted it in April 1916, followed by the United Kingdom, the United States, and other countries.  

After the war, many countries abandoned DST, but it returned between 1942-1945 during World War II under the name “War Time” in the United States.  

States and localities were left to determine if it would implement DST after World War II, and it stayed that way until the Uniform Time Act of 1966 was enacted. Standard time start and end dates were then established for DST across the country. 

The Energy Policy Act of 2005 extended the start and end of DST, beginning in 2007.  Now, it begins on the second Sunday in March and ends on the first Sunday in November. 

There are two U.S. states now that do not observe Daylight Saving Time:

• Hawaii – Due to its location near the equator, Hawaii has relatively consistent sunrise and sunset times year-round, making DST unnecessary.
• Most of Arizona – The state opted out of DST in 1968, as the extra evening daylight was seen as increasing cooling costs and discomfort during the hot summers. However, the Navajo Nation, which spans parts of Arizona, Utah, and New Mexico, does observe DST.

As you go to bed on Saturday, it’s a good idea to set your clocks ahead so you will be on time for Sunday morning. The downside is that you will lose an hour of sleep Saturday night but have an extra hour of daylight on Sunday to compensate.

Debate is continuing about making DST permanent and that would need an act of Congress to make happen. There are 20 states, including Mississippi, that have passed legislation to end DST if Congress passes such a measure.  

U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Mississippi) has been an active advocate of making Daylight Saving Time permanent. Her latest effort, the Sunshine Protection Act of 2025 (S. 29), is one she co-sponsored with Sen. Rick Scott (R-Florida). 

“Changing the clocks twice a year creates unnecessary difficulties for many people in Mississippi, especially farmers who rely on daylight to manage their crops, livestock, and daily tasks, and permanent Daylight Saving Time would give them more consistency throughout the year,” Hyde-Smith said in a news release. “It would also help boost the economy, improve public safety, and offer important mental health benefits.”

The Sunshine Protection Act of 2025 has been introduced in the Senate but has not gotten any further to this point in the session.  

President Donald Trump has weighed in on the issue, but he said that he wants to end Daylight Saving Time and make standard time permanent.