Permanent time observation in the United States
Permanent standard time refers to the year-round observation of standard time. Likewise, permanent daylight saving time refers to the year-round observation of daylight saving time (DST). Both permanent standard time and permanent DST eliminate the practice of semi-annual clock changes, specifically the advancement of clocks by one hour from standard time to DST in spring (commonly called "spring forward") and the retraction of clocks by one hour from DST to standard time in fall ("fall back"). In the United States, Arizona (with the exception of the Navajo Nation), Hawaii, and  all permanently inhabited territories observe permanent standard time. Observation of permanent DST is forbidden by the Uniform Time Act. The Uniform Time Act of 1966 formalized the specification of time zones and the dates of DST observation in the United States. Prior to this law, time zones and DST observation in America were independent and erratic across states and cities. The law requires states to change clocks biannually between standard time and DST on federally mandated dates, and it permits states to opt out of DST observation altogether and remain on permanent standard time. It does not permit observation of  permanent DST. Studies have shown the semi-annual clock changes result in sleep disturbances, ultimately resulting in more health problems and traffic accidents. Legislators in 25 states have attempted to switch to either permanent standard time or permanent DST. Currently more states are pursuing permanent DST. Permanent standard time. Prior to the introduction of DST in 1967, all American states observed permanent Standard Time. Presently in the US, Arizona (with the exception of the Navajo Nation), Hawaii, and all permanently inhabited territories (American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands) observe permanent standard time. A  number of states have proposed bills to restore observation of permanent standard time, but few have gained ground as of yet. Possible benefits and disadvantages. Permanent standard time is considered by circadian health researchers and safety experts worldwide to be the best option for health, safety, schools, and economy, including the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, National Sleep Foundation, American College of Chest Physicians, National Safety Council, American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Canadian Sleep Society, World Sleep Society, Society for Research on Biological Rhythms, and several state sleep societies. Permanent standard time is supported by advocates for school  children, including the National PTA, National Education Association, American Federation of Teachers, National School Boards Association, and Start School Later. They cite both the health benefits of circadian alignment, and the safety advantages regarding morning commutes. It is supported by certain religious communities, such as Orthodox Jews, whose daily prayers and other customs are synchronized with times of sunrise and sunset. It is supported by environmental evidence, owing to evidence that DST observation increases driving, morning heating, and evening air conditioning, which all in turn increase energy consumption and pollution. Permanent daylight saving time. A change in federal law would  be necessary to allow states to observe DST permanently all year. A number of states have pursued state bills, resolutions, and referendums to indicate intention to observe permanent DST if federal law would permit it. In 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021, Florida Republican senator Marco Rubio introduced to Congress the "Sunshine Protection Act", a bill to permit states to observe permanent DST. The bill had achieved referral to committee, but had not received a hearing. Also in 2021, Florida Republican Representative Vern Buchanan introduced a daylight saving time for the whole country, by changing everyone's time zone forward by  an hour (Eastern Time would become permanently UTC-0400 instead of UTC-0500). That bill also allowed states to opt out under certain conditions. On March 15, 2022, Rubio's bill passed the Senate. As a work-around to the Uniform Time Act's prohibition on permanent DST, a bloc of states in New England has proposed a statutory move from the Eastern Time Zone to the Atlantic Time Zone (Atlantic Time being one hour ahead of Eastern Time), and then abolishing biannual clock changes. If approved by the Department of Transportation, such a move would effectively put these states on permanent  DST without needing to await amendment to the Uniform Time Act by Congress. Similarly, on the West Coast, Washington state passed both a bill for permanent DST and an alternative bill to move the state's official observation from the Pacific Time Zone to the Mountain Time Zone. Possible benefits and disadvantages. A meta-analysis by Rutgers researchers found that Permanent DST would eliminate 171 pedestrian fatalities (a 13% reduction) per year. DST has been supported by the Chamber of Commerce since 1915 attributing added sales and outdoor activity to sunlight in the evenings. Additionally, DST has been expanded to  nearly 8 months of the year, effectively making it the new standard. Researchers warn however that the human body "never adjusts" to DST, and that permanent observation of DST would result in "permanent social jet lag". Experts such as Till Roenneberg argue that evidence from extreme edges of time zones, extensions of DST, and permanent observation of DST demonstrate this phenomenon "significantly" increases rates of disease and accidents, and lowers productivity and wages. In 2018, the European Sleep Research Society, European Biological Rhythms Society, and Society for Research on Biological Rhythms (SRBR) released a joint statement to the EU Commission  on DST in opposition to permanent DST and in support of permanent standard time. The SRBR followed with its own more comprehensive statement and set of materials supporting the same position in 2019. In August 2020, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine provided a statement on why they oppose permanent daylight saving time and favor permanent standard time. Medical experts for years have been citing health risks associated with the "Spring Forward" and "Fall Back", including Daliah Wachs and Paul Kalekas, and in a petition, they took the temperature of what society would want in terms of ending the time  change, and close to 200,000 signed asking for an end to biannual time changes. They and other physicians are supporting the #SickofSpringForward and #FinishedWithFallBack campaign. The observation of DST has also been found to increase residential energy costs and pollution costs by several million dollars per year. Previous observation of year-round daylight saving time. Permanent DST in the US was briefly enacted by president Richard Nixon in 1974, in response to the 1973 oil crisis. The proposal was initially supported by an estimated 79% of the public; that support dropped to 42% after its first winter, owing to the  harshness of dark winter mornings that permanent DST creates. The new permanent DST law was retracted within the year. 2015–2022: Proposals for the introduction of year-round DST. An entire movement has been organized in support of the legalization of using daylight saving time as the year-round clock option. Bills to end DST, and bills to make it permanent, have been introduced in more than 30 states. The main argument for introducing year-round DST is that the lifestyles and work patterns of modern-day citizens are no longer compatible with the concept of shifting the clock every spring  and fall. Supporters also argue that switching to <nowiki>"</nowiki>Forward Time<nowiki>"</nowiki> would also result in saving energy by reducing the need for artificial light. The Sunshine Protection Act of 2019 was introduced in the Senate by Senator Marco Rubio (R) of Florida to make the times used for DST standard time and abolish DST. It had bipartisan support from senators from Washington and Tennessee, but it had not received a hearing in the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation committee. In 2015, the Nevada Senate passed Nevada Assembly Joint Resolution 4, which urged Congress to enact  legislation allowing individual states to establish daylight saving time as the standard time in their respective states throughout the calendar year. This would mean that Nevada is on the same time as Arizona all year, but would be an hour ahead of California in the winter. The United States Congress has not yet enacted any enabling legislation in this regard. On March 6, 2018, the Florida Senate approved the Sunshine Protection Act which would put Florida on permanent daylight saving time year round, and Governor Rick Scott signed it March 23. Congress would need to amend the existing 1966 federal  law to allow the change. In November 2018, voters in California ratified a legislative plan which would allow for year-round daylight saving time to be enacted. However, it still requires the vote of two-thirds of the state's legislature and the approval of Congress. In 2019, the Washington State Legislature passed Substitute House Bill 1196, which would establish year-round observation of daylight saving time contingent on the United States Congress amending federal law to authorize states to observe daylight saving time year-round. The bill passed, and was followed by proposed 2021 ballot initiative 1803, "Abolish Daylight  Savings Time in Washington state" to petition the U.S. Congress to authorize the change. Tennessee and Oregon also passed bills in 2019 for year-round DST, and legislative houses in Alabama and Arkansas also approved resolutions in favor. Georgia governor Brian P. Kemp signed Senate Bill 100 providing for year-round daylight savings time when the United States Congress amends 15 U.S.C. Section 260a to authorize states to observe daylight savings time year round. On March 15, 2022, the United States Senate passed a bill that, if passed by the House of Representatives and signed into law by the President  of the United States, would make Daylight Saving Time permanent. This change would take effect starting in November 2023.