The days are getting shorter, the sunsets are coming earlier and the time to fall back and end daylight saving time is almost here.
Ohioans will turn their clocks back one hour on Nov. 1 when daylight saving time ends and standard time returns. This year's switch falls on the earliest date possible under federal law.
Here's what to know about the time change and the difference between daylight saving time and standard time.
When is the fall back time change in 2026? Exact moment daylight saving time ends
Because the time change occurs on the first Sunday in November, this year's switch falls on the earliest possible date. Daylight saving time ends at 2 a.m. Nov. 1, 2026.
What's the difference between standard time and daylight saving?
According to Congress, standard time is the legally established base time for a time zone. Daylight saving time moves that clock ahead by one hour during part
of the year to maximize daylight hours when people are more active.
In practical terms, daylight saving time is the clock setting that's used from spring through fall, while standard time is used during the winter months.
Daylight saving time typically runs from March to November, resulting in later sunsets and more evening daylight, according to the U.S. Naval Observatory.
Standard time is used during the rest of the year and more closely matches the sun's position.
Could Ohio ever change time zones?
States can choose whether to observe daylight saving time, but time-zone boundaries are set by the federal government. That means Ohio would remain in the Eastern Time Zone unless federal officials approved a boundary change.
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 likely remain on Eastern Time whether or not it observes daylight saving time.
Can states stay on standard time year-round?
Arizona and Hawaii currently observe standard time year-round. If federal law changed, they could choose whether to adopt permanent daylight saving time or keep their current systems.
Why can't we end daylight saving time permanently? Did Sunshine Protection Act pass?
The Sunshine Protection Act would permanently extend daylight saving time from eight months of the year to the full 12 months. The bill was first introduced in March 2018 by then-Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Florida, now Secretary of State in the second Trump administration, and Rep. Vern Buchanan. The pair reintroduced the bill, along with other sponsors, in 2019, 2021 and 2023. However, those bills were never passed by the U.S. House of Representatives, and they have never been signed into law.
The measures introduced in 2018, 2019, 2021 and 2023 were not passed by the U.S. House of Representatives, nor were they signed into law by Trump during his first administration and by former President Biden.
In January 2025, U.S. Sen. Rick Scott introduced the Sunshine Protection Act of 2025 to officially “lock the clock”, end the twice-yearly time change and make daylight saving time the national year-round standard across the U.S.
In July 2026, the House of Representatives voted "yes" on the Sunshine Protection Act, which would leave it up to each state to decide whether to make daylight saving time permanent. Sen. Bernie Moreno of Ohio is one of several Senators who serve on the committee that will decide whether or not to bring the bill to the Senate floor. However, there is no vote scheduled on it, and Senators won't have much time to take action, as lawmakers are scheduled to leave the Capitol on Oct. 5, 2026, for a break and will not return until after the time change, on Nov. 9, 2026.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: When do clocks fall back in 2026? Standard time vs. daylight saving time
