Twice a year, every year, the ritual returns literally like clockwork: the beginning and end of daylight saving time.

This year, daylight saving time ends tomorrow, Sunday.

Gruntingly or gleefully, millions of Americans tap their devices or wind the hands of their watches, manually and mentally changing the time to reflect a change in seasons.

In recent years, lawmakers have been talking about the end of this outdated tradition. At the federal and state levels, a number of bills targeting the biennial time changes are awaiting action or stalled, at least for now.

Here’s a look at where things stand.

What is the status of the Senate bill on expiring time changes?

In March 2022, the Senate passed the Sunshine Protection Act. The aim behind the bill was to make daylight saving time permanent from spring 2023.

And at first it looked like it was going to happen. The Senate passed the bill through an expedited process and unanimously; This is a rare occurrence in legislation today.

However, the bill was not discussed in the Parliament. Members He was talking about higher priorities like the budget deficit and the war in Ukraine, but there was also a growing chorus of criticism about it. The bill’s approach (more on this below).

Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., reintroduced the bill in March 2023 and sent it to the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, but there has been no significant action on it since then. A companion bill introduced by Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Fla., similarly remained in committee at the House level.

Even if it’s both Even if the bill manages to pass both chambers, it still needs to be signed by President Biden, who has not indicated how willing he is relevant.

So for now the tradition remains intact.

Who observes daylight saving time?

All but two states—Hawaii and Arizona (except the Navajo Nation)—observe daylight saving time. The US territories of American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and the Northern Mariana Islands also do not change their hours.

What is the argument against the Sunshine Protection Act?

When Sunlight Protection Act Experts on the subject, first discussed in a House subcommittee, said switching to permanent daylight saving time would do it all: save lives, reduce crime, save energy and improve health.

And almost everyone agrees on that It’s usually a good idea to end time changes. Our bodies can be very sensitive to disruptions in circadian rhythms.

But The medical community took up the issue How the bill proposes to make the change — specifically, requiring all states to adopt permanent daylight saving time rather than sticking to standard time.

Doctors and scientists argue that standard time is better for our health. Our internal clock is better adapted to receiving light in the morning, which prepares us for better sleep cycles.

But the sponsors of the bill are not backing down. Rubio is still pushing for permanent daylight saving time.

And the biggest argument for this approach may be economic. The idea is that having more light in the evening encourages people to go out and do things, i.e. spend money.

For example, the nation’s grocery stores told a congressional subcommittee they saw: increase in spending when the clocks are set to daylight saving time.

Can states adopt their own time change rules?

Because federal legislation is stuck in a holding pattern, states can address the issue but are still subject to some federal limitations.

Uniform Law of TimeThe law, passed in 1966, says states can enact permanent standard time but not permanent daylight saving time.

At least 550 bills and resolutions related to time changes have emerged at the state level in recent years, according to a count from the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL). So the same debate that is happening at the federal level is happening in statehouses in the United States.

Save Standard Timea nonprofit working to end daylight saving time, regularly updates a detailed table showing the exact status of state bills.

Which states are trying to end daylight saving time?

At least 29 states have considered daylight saving legislation in 2023.

At least half of these states Measures enacted or passed He has promised to switch to permanent daylight saving time if Congress changes the rules to allow such action.

Many of these states were also actively considering legislation to end daylight saving time, but by switching the state to standard time year-round, According to NCSL.

last month a oregon bill Keeping most of the state on Pacific Standard Time all year has failed to make progress in the state’s Senate. But supporters agreed to amend the bill to say Oregon would end daylight saving time only if California and Washington make the same change within the next 10 years.

Lawmakers in Oregon’s neighboring states of Idaho, California and Washington have also proposed similar bills.

Copyright 2024 NPR.