Twice a year, every year, the ritual returns as a literal mechanism: the beginning and end of daylight saving time.

This year, daylight savings time ends tomorrow, Sunday.

Millions of Americans, with grunts or glee, tap their devices or wrap the hands of their watches, manually – and mentally – changing the time to reflect a change in the seasons.

In recent years, lawmakers have talked about this time-worn tradition being on its last legs. A number of federal and state bills aimed at biannual time changes await action or are stalled, at least for now.

Here’s how things are.

What is the status of that Senate bill to end hours?

In March 2022, the Senate passed the Sun Protection Act. The intent behind the bill was to make daylight saving time permanent starting in the spring of 2023.

And at first, it looked like it might come true. The Senate passed the bill through an expedited process and by unanimous consent — legislative rarities these days.

But the draft law was not taken up by the Parliament. Members cited higher priorities such as the budget deficit and the war in Ukraine, but there was also a growing chorus of criticism about approach to the draft law (more on this below).

Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., reintroduced the bill in March 2023 and it was referred to the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, but there has been no notable movement on it since then. A companion bill, introduced by Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Florida, is similarly stalled in committee at the House level.

Even if it is the bill manages to pass both chambers, it would still need to be signed by President Biden, who has not indicated his leanings on the problem.

So, for now, the tradition remains intact.

Who observes daylight saving time?

All but two states—Hawaii and Arizona (excluding the Navajo Nation)—observe daylight saving time. The US territories of American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and the Northern Mariana Islands also do not change their clocks.

What is the argument against the Sunshine Protection Act?

When the Sun Protection Act first debated in a House subcommittee, experts said switching to permanent daylight saving time would do it all: save lives, reduce crime, conserve energy and improve health.

And almost everyone agrees with that Ending time changes is generally a good idea. Our bodies can be very sensitive to disruptions in our circadian rhythms.

But the one the medical community took issue with how the bill proposes to make the change — specifically, that it forces all states to adopt permanent daylight saving time rather than stick to standard time.

Doctors and scientists claim that standard time is better for our health. Our internal clock is better aligned with light in the morning, which in turn sets us up for better sleep cycles.

Still, the bill’s sponsors aren’t budging. Rubio is still pushing for permanent daylight saving time.

And the biggest argument for this approach may be an economic one. The idea is that having more light in the evening encourages people to go out and do things – that is, spend money.

The nation’s department stores, for example, told a congressional subcommittee that they see a increase in spending when clocks are set to daylight saving time.

Could states adopt their own time change rules?

With federal legislation locked in a holding pattern, states could address the issue but are still subject to federal limitations.

The Uniform time actwhich was passed in 1966, says that states can adopt permanent standard time, but not permanent daylight saving time.

At least 550 bills and resolutions have appeared on statewide time changes in recent years, according to a count from the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL). So the same debate that is happening at the federal level is happening in the states of the United States.

Save standard timea nonprofit working to end daylight saving time, regularly updates a detailed chart with the exact status of state bills.

Which states are trying to end daylight saving time?

As of 2023, at least 29 states have considered daylight saving time legislation.

At least half of these states have measures adopted or adopted pledging to switch to permanent daylight saving time if Congress changes the rules to allow such action.

Several of these states have actively considered legislation that would end daylight saving time, but by moving the state to year-round standard time, according to NCSL.

Last month, year The Oregon Bill to keep most of the state on Pacific Standard Time for the entire year did not advance in the state Senate. But supporters agreed to amend the bill to say Oregon would end daylight saving time only if California and Washington make the same change within the next 10 years.

Lawmakers in Oregon’s neighboring states, Idaho, California and Washington, have proposed similar bills.

Copyright 2024 NPR.