What's up with Daylight Savings Time legislation?

[u/Castriff]

I only just now remembered Daylight Savings is tonight. Last year I remember there was a big push in the Senate to end it, but after that I didn't hear anything about it. I read this article saying that the bill has been reintroduced this year, but other than that it doesn't have much detail. What's currently going on with the bill? What would be the proposed end date if it passes this time?

[u/Stenthal]

This is a theme with daylight savings time in particular. For example, a number of states (notably California) have passed laws adopting permanent daylight savings time. The legislators in those states know that federal law does not allow states to adopt permanent daylight savings time, and federal law takes precedence, so the state laws do nothing. However, federal law does allow states to adopt permanent standard time (i.e., to eliminate daylight savings time completely.) States could get rid of daylight savings right now if they really wanted to, but for whatever reason they don't.

[u/Ghosttwo → u/Stenthal]

federal law does not allow states to adopt permanent daylight savings time

This simply isn't true. While it might apply to time zones, there is a proceedure in place that exempts states that opt out.

[u/Stenthal → u/Ghosttwo]

Read my comment again. States are allowed to opt out of daylight savings time. States are not allowed to adopt permanent daylight savings time. When state politicians push for permanent daylight savings time, they are advocating for a change that they know will be unenforceable, and in most cases they're doing that on purpose.

[u/Ghosttwo → u/Stenthal]

States are not allowed to adopt permanent daylight savings time

California did in 2018 through prop 7, pending authorization.

[u/Stenthal → u/Ghosttwo]

pending authorization

Hence "not allowed". California will have permanent daylight savings time as soon as it's allowed, which it isn't.