Daylight saving time (DST) can be a confusing topic, especially when you consider that not all states in the U.S. follow it in the same way. While most states, including Washington, change their clocks twice a year, others like Arizona and Hawaii have opted out of DST entirely. Here’s why Washington still observes DST and what makes Arizona and Hawaii different.
Washington and Daylight Saving Time
As of now, Washington continues to follow daylight saving time like most of the United States, switching clocks twice a year. The state has expressed interest in staying on year-round daylight saving time, but there’s a catch.
Federal law doesn’t allow states to adopt permanent daylight saving time on their own. In 2019, Washington passed a bill to make the switch to permanent daylight saving time, but this change cannot happen until Congress amends the law. As of 2025, Congress hasn’t passed any such legislation, so Washington is still required to change its clocks twice a year.
Why Arizona and Hawaii Don’t Observe Daylight Saving Time
In contrast, Arizona and Hawaii have chosen not to observe daylight saving time at all. Under the Uniform Time Act of 1966, states can opt out of DST and stay on standard time year-round. However, they cannot independently choose to stay on permanent daylight saving time—only Congress can make that change.
Arizona’s decision not to follow DST is primarily driven by its extreme summer heat. With more daylight in the evening, energy use for air conditioning would spike, and the hot weather would make outdoor activities uncomfortable. By staying on standard time, Arizona avoids these issues.
Hawaii, on the other hand, is close to the equator, where the amount of daylight doesn’t vary much throughout the year. As a result, there’s little benefit to observing daylight saving time, so the state remains on standard time year-round.
Summary
Washington wants to adopt year-round daylight saving time, but federal law prevents it until Congress acts.
Arizona and Hawaii do not observe daylight saving time because federal law allows them to stay on standard time year-round, but not permanent daylight saving time.
The key difference lies in federal law: states can opt out of daylight saving time and remain on standard time, but they cannot remain on daylight saving time without a change from Congress.
In short, while Washington may eventually stay on daylight saving time year-round, it will take an act of Congress to make it happen. Meanwhile, states like Arizona and Hawaii enjoy the flexibility to stay on standard time without any legal hurdles.
Sources
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daylight_saving_time_in_the_United_States
[2] https://www.heraldnet.com/opinion/editorial-stop-the-clock-on-our-twice-yearly-time-change/
[3] https://www.rd.com/article/states-dont-observe-daylight-saving-time/
[4] https://thehill.com/homenews/nexstar_media_wire/5184764-two-states-didnt-spring-forward/
[5] https://www.cbsnews.com/news/states-without-daylight-saving-time/
