Henryetta Sept 15, 2024: 

November 3^rd is the 2024 end of Daylight savings time.  The sun will set at 5:26pm that day after the 2:00 am “fall back”.  By November 30^th sunset will be at 5:11pm.  Just two short hours after school is dismissed.

As Oklahomans prepare to “fall back” and adjust to the early evening once again, there is a growing conversation around whether it’s time to end the biannual clock change for good. This discussion comes as several states across the country reconsider the practice of Daylight Savings Time (DST) and the federal Sunshine Protection Act remains in legislative limbo.

States Not Participating in DST

Currently, two states—Hawaii and most of Arizona—do not participate in Daylight Savings Time. Hawaii remains on standard time year-round due to its proximity to the equator, where there is little variation in daylight throughout the year. Arizona, with the exception of the Navajo Nation, opted out in the 1960s, citing energy conservation and a desire to avoid the intense summer heat of later sunsets.

Where the Sunshine Protection Act Stands

The Sunshine Protection Act, introduced in the U.S. Senate in 2022 by Florida Republican Marco Rubio, aimed to make Daylight Savings Time permanent across the country. Despite bipartisan support in the Senate that year, the bill stalled in the House of Representatives. Several reasons contribute to its delay, including concerns about how permanent DST could affect different regions’ daily routines, its impact on industries like agriculture, and health-related worries about the disruption of circadian rhythms. Additionally, some lawmakers are advocating for a shift to permanent Standard Time instead, arguing it aligns more closely with natural light patterns.

Congress passed the Emergency Daylight Savings Time Energy Conservation Act in 1974.  This was a two-year experiment intended to save energy.  However, after a public outcry centered on children walking to school and waiting for school buses in the dark the experiment ended after just 10 months.  It was supposed to run from January 1974-April 1975, but it ended in October 1974.

Pros and Cons of Moving the Clock

The debate over ending Daylight Savings Time centers around several pros and cons:

• Pros of Keeping DST:
  
  
  • Extended Evening Daylight: More daylight in the evening hours, which can lead to increased outdoor activities, retail shopping, and potentially reduced energy consumption.
  • Safety Benefits: Studies have shown a reduction in traffic accidents and crime rates with more daylight during peak activity hours.
    
    
• Cons of Keeping DST:
  
  
  • Health Concerns: The shift can disrupt sleep patterns, leading to potential health issues such as heart attacks, strokes, and seasonal depression.
    
    
  • Economic Impact: Some industries, such as farming and broadcasting, argue that the clock changes negatively impact their schedules and productivity.

As Oklahoma and other states await further developments on the Sunshine Protection Act, the future of Daylight Savings Time remains uncertain. For now, Oklahomans will continue to adjust their clocks, but the debate over whether this tradition is outdated continues to gain momentum.

Conclusion: The Path Forward

With growing support for a more permanent solution and ongoing legislative debates, the end of Daylight Savings Time in Oklahoma may be on the horizon. Whether it will be permanent DST, a return to year-round Standard Time, or continued clock changes is yet to be decided.  

Cynthia Simonds, Bee’s Knees Vintage contributed this Article.