Most Americans will likely set their clocks back one hour this fall at the end of daylight saving time, even as Congress considers legislation that would make daylight saving time permanent.
Unless Congress acts before Nov. 1, Ohioans will turn their clocks back one hour when daylight saving time ends. If lawmakers eventually make daylight saving time permanent, Ohio would would see later winter sunsets but also winter sunrises that would arrive nearly an hour later. The bill has passed the U.S. House but remains pending in the Senate.
How soon will Ohioans change their clocks? Here's when the time change happens.
When is daylight saving time in 2026?
Daylight saving time ends at 2 a.m. on the first Sunday in November. In 2026, that date falls on Nov. 1, the earliest possible date for
the annual time change.
How late would Ohio sunrises get under permanent daylight saving time?
Permanent daylight saving time would have little effect in summer because Ohio already observes daylight saving time from March to November.
On June 21, the summer solstice, sunrises would range from 5:53 a.m. in Akron to 6:12 a.m. in Cincinnati, while sunsets would occur between 9:02 p.m. and 9:07 p.m.
The biggest change would come in winter, when both sunrise and sunset would shift one hour later. On Dec. 21, the winter solstice, sunrise would occur as late as 8:47 a.m. in Akron, 8:50 a.m. in Columbus and 8:53 a.m. in Cincinnati, while sunsets would move to 6 p.m., 6:10 p.m. and 6:18 p.m., respectively. Ohio wouldn't gain daylight, only shift it later into the day.
Sunsets would be later, but days wouldn't be longer
If enacted, HR 139 would make daylight saving time permanent in most of the United States. Clocks would stay on daylight saving time year-round instead of "falling back" each November.
Permanent daylight saving time would not add daylight hours. Instead, it would move an hour of winter morning sunlight to the evening.
Could states keep standard time instead?
Arizona and Hawaii, which currently remain on standard time year-round, could choose whether to adopt permanent daylight saving time or keep their current systems.
Could Ohio switch time zones?
States can choose whether to observe daylight saving time, but Ohio would likely remain on Eastern Time since time-zone boundaries are set by the federal government.
The U.S. Department of Transportation oversees time zones in the U.S. because "time standards are important for many modes of transportation." So, Ohio would remain on eastern time whether or not it chooses to observe daylight saving time.
The difference between daylight saving and standard time
Daylight saving time is the period when clocks are moved one hour ahead, typically from March to November, creating later sunsets and more evening daylight, according to the U.S. Naval Observatory.
Meanwhile, standard time is the baseline time used during the rest of the year and is tied more closely to the sun's position.
Under the bill, daylight saving time would become the year-round standard for most of the country, according to Congress.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: When is daylight saving time in Ohio 2026? Permanent DST bill in limbo
