As debates about the merits and drawbacks of Daylight Saving Time (DST) swirl annually, many are surprised to learn that Oregon, despite years of legislative wrangling, is among the states leading a movement to permanently end the practice of changing the clocks twice a year.
However, the real answer to “why Oregon doesn’t do Daylight Saving Time” is that, as of now, Oregon simply hasn’t succeeded in ditching the time changes yet—mainly because it’s waiting on its neighbors. Only two U.S. states currently do not observe Daylight Saving Time: Arizona and Hawaii.
Why Oregon Wants to Stop Switching Clocks
For years, Oregon lawmakers have introduced bills to end the “spring forward, fall back” routine that disrupts sleep schedules and sparks debate over its actual benefits. Many Oregonians consider the twice-yearly switch a nuisance, and there is strong bipartisan support in the state legislature to make either standard or daylight saving time permanent year-round. The argument boils down to two options:
The Sticking Point: Synchronization With Neighbors
The main reason Oregon hasn’t simply opted out of DST already is the concern about staying in sync with neighboring states—especially Washington and California. Legislators fear confusion and disruption if Oregon operates on a different time than the rest of the West Coast, impacting everything from commerce to commuters and broadcasting.
So, lawmakers passed Senate Bill 1038, which states Oregon will only make the change if both Washington and California agree to the same time plan within the next 10 years. Essentially, Oregon is ‘locked’ until its neighbors agree.
Why Arizona and Hawaii Don’t “Spring Forward”
Arizona and Hawaii are the only two U.S. states that legally operate on standard time year-round, never observing DST:
Arizona: DST would extend scorching daylight hours into the evening, leading to increased energy use and less comfort for residents. Because of the desert climate, it makes much more sense to skip the time change and avoid extra hot daylight hours.
Hawaii: Positioned close to the equator, Hawaii’s sunrise and sunset times don’t vary much throughout the year. There’s no need for an artificial time change since the island gets consistent sunlight.
Federal Law and National Gridlock
Federal law allows states to opt out of DST and remain on standard time but not to independently adopt permanent DST without an act of Congress. Numerous states—including Oregon—have voted for year-round DST, but they need congressional approval to enact it. Thus, states find themselves at a standstill, waiting for federal permission or regional consensus to take effect.
Oregon passionately wants to ditch the clock-switching, but it’s stuck waiting for the dominoes to fall on the West Coast. Meanwhile, only Arizona and Hawaii have the simple distinction of never changing their clocks, each for straightforward reasons rooted in geography and climate. Until federal law or the entire Pacific Coast moves in unison, Oregon’s dream of ending Daylight Saving Time remains on hold—just out of reach.
Sources
[1] https://www.opb.org/article/2025/03/25/oregon-senate-oks-bill-that-might-end-twice-yearly-time-change/
[2] https://oregoncapitalinsider.com/2025/03/27/oregon-moves-to-ditch-daylight-saving-time-again/
[3] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNukXCAS0m0
[4] https://www.rd.com/article/states-dont-observe-daylight-saving-time/
[5] https://www.cbsnews.com/news/states-without-daylight-saving-time/
