Leanna Lehman
Last week, a bill that would keep Nevada on standard time year-round cleared its first legislative hurdle. Assembly Bill 81, known as the “Lock the Clock” Act, passed out of the Assembly Government Affairs Committee on March 31. The proposal now heads to the State Assembly for debate and a floor vote.
If approved, Nevadans would change clocks back in November 2025—then never change them again. Starting in December, the state would permanently remain on standard time.
Daylight saving time was first adopted during World War I by Germany as a way to conserve energy and fuel. The U.S. followed suit in 1918 and again in World War II. By 1966, Congress passed the Uniform Time Act, creating a national framework that allowed states to opt out of daylight saving time — but not to adopt it permanently without federal approval.
Today, only two states—Arizona and Hawaii—stay on standard time all year. Arizona stays on Mountain Standard Time year-round, except for the Navajo Nation. Hawaii remains on standard time due to its proximity to the equator, where sunrise and sunset times don’t vary as much throughout the year. Several U.S. territories, including Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa, are also on standard time year-round.
If AB 81 becomes law, Nevada would be within its rights to join those states and territories on permanent standard time (November through early March). However, it could not shift to permanent daylight time (mid-March to early November) without action from Congress.
Supporters of the bill say the twice-a-year clock change is more trouble than it’s worth. Some studies link the springtime shift to increased risks of heart attacks, strokes, workplace injuries, and car crashes. Many find it disruptive to sleep cycles, family schedules, and work routines. Supporters also argue that changing clocks creates unnecessary additional confusion in a digital world where schedules and meetings cross time zones daily.
Another long-held argument favoring DST—energy savings—has also weakened in recent years. A 2017 review of 44 international studies found that the energy savings from daylight saving time were minimal—about 0.3% on average—and often wiped out by increases in heating costs. In a study of Indiana households after the state adopted DST statewide in 2006, electricity use went up by 1% due to more heating in the mornings and cooling in the evenings.
These findings reflect a shift in how Americans use energy. Decades ago, lighting made up much of residential energy use, and DST meant lights stayed off longer in the evening. But today, with the widespread use of energy-efficient lighting and higher reliance on electronics and climate control, the net benefits of DST are negligible.
Still, the issue isn’t without controversy.
During a February 24 hearing on the bill, pediatrician Dr. Ron Aryel testified in opposition, citing concerns about darker winter mornings. He warned that reduced morning light could contribute to safety issues, including crime and traffic accidents, and suggested the Legislature study the matter further before committing to a change.
The safety concern is not new. In 1974, during the nationwide experiment with year-round daylight saving time, eight children in Florida were struck and killed by vehicles while waiting for school buses in the dark. The tragedy, along with other incidents around the country, prompted some school districts to delay start times—but public support for permanent DST plummeted. What started with nearly 80% approval dropped to less than 50% in just a few months. Congress reversed the decision within a year, returning the nation to standard time during winter months.
Others argue that staying out of sync with neighboring states that continue to observe DST could complicate travel, broadcast schedules, and business operations.
There’s also a persistent myth that DST was introduced to benefit agriculture. In reality, many farmers opposed the shift from the beginning. Ranchers and growers time their work by the sun, not the clock. Cows don’t adjust their milking schedules, and hay doesn’t get baled any faster just because the hands on a clock moved. For many in rural Nevada, changing the time doesn’t change the work—it only shifts it on paper.
Under the current version of AB 81, Nevada would observe daylight saving time this summer and fall and then switch to permanent standard time in November 2025. From that point forward, no more clock changes.
Whether Nevada locks the clock or not, the conversation signals a growing shift. The twice-yearly ritual of changing the clocks is being questioned more seriously, especially in states like ours—where long distances, early mornings, and rural routines don’t always align with policies created in coastal cities a century ago.
A full Assembly vote is expected in the coming weeks.
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