ASHEBORO N.C. – Daylight Saving Time starts this Sunday as most of the country ‘springs forward’ for the annual trade of an hour of sleep for more daylight in the coming spring and summer months.
When Does the Time Change
Daylight Saving Time starts on Sunday, March 12th, 2023, at 2 a.m. As clocks ‘spring forward’ 2 a.m. becomes 3 a.m. resulting in a lost hour of sleep but more daylight hours during the summer.
Daylight saving time for 2023 will end on Sunday, Nov. 5, at 2 a.m.
I Thought We Were Done with This?
In April of 2021, the North Carolina House passed a bill titled “NC Time Zone/Observe DST All Year” that would make Daylight Saving Time permanent (year-round). The bill was sent to the Senate on February 2nd, 2021, but has not moved since then. Another similar bill also failed to pass the NC senate in 2019.
However, it wouldn’t matter if the bill had passed. While federal law allows states to opt-out of Daylight-Saving Time, if a state wishes to remain on Daylight Saving Time it would require an act of Congress.
At the federal level Florida lawmakers Vern Buchanan (R-FL) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) have repeatedly introduced the Sunshine Protection Act which would make Daylight Saving Time permanent across the country. Bills introduced in 2018, 2019, and 2021 all died in committee. In March 2022, the Senate unanimously passed Rubio’s Sunshine Protection Act, sending it to the House where it was never brought up for a vote.
Just a few days ago, and ahead of Daylight Saving Time, U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) reintroduced the Sunshine Protection Act of 2023. “This ritual of changing time twice a year is stupid. Locking the clock has overwhelming bipartisan and popular support. This Congress, I hope that we can finally get this done,” said Senator Rubio in a press release.