Stockton residents are scheduled to turn their clocks back one hour on Nov. 1 as California returns to standard time. The change arrives at 2 a.m. and will give clocks across San Joaquin County the familiar
seasonal reset.
But this year’s switch carries an added question: Could Congress prevent it? The House has approved legislation to make daylight saving time permanent, although the proposal still awaits Senate action. Unless federal lawmakers change the current system before November, California will follow the existing schedule.
Most Americans remain scheduled to turn their clocks back one hour Nov. 1. Here are the date, time and legislative details Stockton-area readers need as the clock change approaches.
When does daylight saving time end in California in 2026?
Daylight saving time is scheduled to end at 2 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 1. Californians will turn their clocks back one hour and return to standard time.
Under the current schedule, daylight saving time begins on the second Sunday in March and ends on the first Sunday in November. Nov. 1 is the earliest date for the annual fall change.
Do Stockton residents need to change their clocks?
Yes. California observes daylight saving time, so the scheduled Nov. 1 clock change applies in Stockton and the rest of the state.
Most Americans will move their clocks back one hour. Hawaii and most of Arizona are the exceptions.
Could Congress prevent California’s Nov. 1 clock change?
Congress is considering the Sunshine Protection Act, which would make daylight saving time permanent. The House approved the legislation on July 14 and sent it to the Senate the following day.
The House vote was 308-117. The measure was referred to the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee.
As of Aug. 27, the Senate had not scheduled a vote on the legislation. The Senate was scheduled to resume regular business Sept. 14, but its first announced vote involved a federal judicial nomination rather than daylight saving time.
Unless the federal legislation changes the current schedule before Nov. 1, Californians will still turn their clocks back.
What would permanent daylight saving time mean for California?
Permanent daylight saving time would keep clocks on the daylight saving schedule during winter. Sunrise and sunset would both occur one hour later than they would under standard time.
The change would not create more daylight. It would shift the available daylight later in the day.
Halloween trick-or-treaters hoping for an extra hour of late-night fun may have to wrap up earlier this year if President Donald Trump gets his way in making daylight saving time permanent, USA Today reported. That's because the holiday falls on the eve of the clock switch, giving revelers an extra hour of spookiness.
When does daylight saving time start in 2027?
Daylight saving time is scheduled to begin on Sunday, March 14, 2027, at 2 a.m. local time.
Why do Americans change their clocks?
The time change is intended to place more sunlight “during more of the hours when people are typically active,” according to a Congressional Research Service report cited in an explanation of the 2026 time change.
Daylight saving time began in 1918, although its rules have changed several times. The current March-to-November schedule was introduced in 2007 following the Energy Policy Act of 2005.
What should California readers remember before Nov. 1?
The current daylight saving time schedule calls for Californians to turn their clocks back one hour at 2 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 1. That is the earliest possible date for the annual fall time change.
The House approved permanent daylight saving time by a 308-117 vote. As of Sept. 9, the Senate had not scheduled a vote. If federal law does not change before Nov. 1, Californians will return to standard time as scheduled.
This story was produced by Elizabeth Roberts, (eroberts@usatodayco.com, with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: When do clocks fall back in California? What Stockton residents should know
