Does Montana Support Daylight Savings Time?

It's that time again—Daylight Saving Time begins this Sunday, March 9th! Every year, on the second Sunday of March, we set our clocks forward one hour (Spring Forward), and on the first Sunday of November, we set them back (Fall Back).

Personally, I think the whole concept is a bit ridiculous. Changing the clocks twice a year doesn't actually create more daylight—it just shifts it around. And many places around the world don't even bother with this tradition.

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But personal opinions aside, let's dive into a quick history of how Daylight Saving Time came to be, how people feel about it today, and whether it might finally be on its way out.

A (Very) Brief History of Daylight Saving Time

The idea was first proposed in 1895 by New Zealand entomologist George Hudson, who wanted more daylight for collecting bugs after work. Then, in 1907, British builder William Willett wrote The Waste of Daylight and lobbied to make the change official. His efforts didn't pay off in his lifetime, but the idea gained traction.

Daylight Saving Time was officially adopted during World War I when Germany implemented it in 1916 to conserve energy. Britain and the U.S. followed shortly after. And here we are, over a century later, still changing our clocks twice a year.

What do Americans Think About Daylight Saving Time?

According to a 2022 Monmouth University study, 60% of Americans want to stop changing their clocks.

"Those who want to stick with a single year-round time prefer to have later sunrise and sunset hours (44%) than the earlier setting offered by standard time (13%)." - Monmouth University.

Who Does NOT Participate in Daylight Saving Time?

A couple of places have just excluded themselves from Daylight Saving altogether. Places like Hawaii, Arizona (except the Navajo Nation), American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Will Daylight Saving Time Be A Thing Of The Past?

19 States have done their best to enact legislation or passed resolutions to lock the clock, Montana being one of them in 2021. It is up to Congress at this point to continue the process. Trump has spoken on the topic, basically saying it was not at the top of his list of concerns.

So, what do you think? Should we keep it, or is it finally time to let it go? Let us know HERE!

Credit: delawareonline , Country Living , Almanac