Utah Congresswoman Fights to End Daylight Saving Time Changes

Rep. Celeste Maloy warns it could take years to pass the Daylight Act and end biannual clock changes

Published on Mar. 11, 2026

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Congresswoman Celeste Maloy, R-Utah, is continuing her push to end daylight saving time changes, even though she warns it could take years to pass the necessary legislation. Maloy has been advocating for the Daylight Act since 2024, which would allow states the option to stay on daylight saving time year-round. While the U.S. Senate previously passed similar legislation, it has since stalled, and Maloy says Congress is currently focused on other pressing issues like the war in Iran and homeland security funding.

Why it matters

Daylight saving time changes are a source of frustration for many Americans, with most people unable to articulate the original rationale behind the biannual clock shifts. Maloy's efforts to end this practice in Utah and nationwide could provide relief to residents who struggle with the disruption to their sleep schedules and daily routines.

The details

Since 2024, Rep. Celeste Maloy has been pushing Congress to pass the Daylight Act, which would allow all 50 states the option of staying on daylight saving time year-round. U.S. law currently gives states the option of staying on standard time year-round, but Arizona is the only state that's chosen to do that. A Utah lawmaker tried to get the state to do the same thing in the 2025 General Legislative Session, but the legislature failed to pass the bill. Utah lawmakers did pass a trigger law in 2020 to observe daylight saving time year-round, but it can't go into effect until Congress changes the federal law.

  • In 2024, Rep. Celeste Maloy began pushing Congress to pass the Daylight Act.
  • In 2025, a Utah lawmaker tried to get the state to stay on standard time year-round, but the legislature failed to pass the bill.
  • In 2020, Utah lawmakers passed a trigger law to observe daylight saving time year-round, but it can't go into effect until Congress changes the federal law.

The players

Rep. Celeste Maloy

A Republican congresswoman from Utah who has been advocating for the Daylight Act since 2024 to allow states the option of staying on daylight saving time year-round.

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What they’re saying

“There's not really a good justification for it anymore. When you ask people why we change the clocks, most people just shrug, they don't have any idea.”

— Rep. Celeste Maloy (KSL)

“Even though we're all feeling the pain this week, it's not the top priority with issues in Iran and funding for homeland security. I don't anticipate that we're going to be able to get the kind of attention this week on the Daylight Act that I was hoping we would be able to get when clocks changed.”

— Rep. Celeste Maloy (KSL)

What’s next

Maloy said she hopes the Daylight Act gets its first hearing sometime in the fall when Utahns and most Americans switch back to standard time. The act needs to pass in a House committee, the full House, a Senate committee and the full Senate, and then needs the president's signature to become law. Maloy warned that could take some time, likely years.

The takeaway

Maloy's efforts to end daylight saving time changes in Utah and nationwide highlight the widespread frustration with the biannual clock shifts, even though the original rationale behind the practice has become unclear to most Americans. While passing the necessary legislation will likely be a lengthy process, Maloy remains confident that Utahns will eventually no longer have to worry about changing their clocks twice a year.