Daylight saving time ends soon. Here are 4 things you should know

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Every state except Hawaii and Arizona currently observes daylight saving time. But each year, more states say it’s time to stop futzing with the clock and embrace daylight saving time year-round.

Anna Blazhuk/Getty Images

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Anna Blazhuk/Getty Images

One of the earliest prominent backers of daylight saving was Abraham Lincoln Filene (of Filene’s Department Stores), who was a driving force behind the movement during World War I. Other supporters included the gardening industry, as well as pro baseball and tennis, according to historian Mike O’Malley of George Mason University.

When Congress held hearings on extending DST in the mid-1980s, officials from the golf industry said an «additional month of daylight saving was worth $200 million in additional sales of golf clubs and greens fees,» Downing told NPR in 2007. «The barbecue industry said it was worth $100 million.»

19 states say we should all just spring forward

Every state except Hawaii and Arizona currently observes daylight saving time. But each year, more states say it’s time to stop futzing with the clock and embrace daylight saving time year-round.

«In the last four years, 19 states have enacted legislation or passed resolutions to provide for year-round daylight saving time, if Congress were to allow such a change,» according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Momentum seems to be building: Between 2015 and 2019, 29 states introduced legislation to abolish resetting the clocks, according to the Department of Transportation, which is in charge of time zones and daylight saving.

States backing the change range from Florida to Washington. Some states have said they would link a potential switch to decisions on DST by their closest neighbors, hoping to minimize disruptions in regions such as the Midwest and New England.

None of those states can act without an act of Congress — and Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., has repeatedly introduced legislation to do that. His Sunshine Protection Act is currently stuck at the committee level.

The Navajo Nation and U.S. territories, such as Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa and Guam, do not currently observe daylight saving.

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A World War I-era poster celebrates daylight saving time, with Uncle Sam changing a clock as a clock-headed figure throws its hat in the air. The one-hour adjustment will revert to standard time on Nov. 7.

Library of Congress

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Library of Congress

Goats and Soda
Much Of The World Doesn’t Do Daylight Saving Time. How Come?

Critics say there’s a flaw in the idea that America will save energy if people don’t use their lights as much: We now have many more ways to consume energy, including running air conditioners and TV sets at home. We also consume more gas while we drive around to enjoy that bonus hour, according to Downing.

«Daylight saving is a loser as an energy plan, but it’s a fantastic retail spending plan,» he said in his video on the issue.

Still, even Downing recognized that daylight saving is a huge hit: «I don’t think it’s ever going away,» he said.