Peoria Standard

As November approaches, residents of Illinois are preparing for the end of Daylight Saving Time (DST) this weekend. Clocks will be set back one hour on Sunday, November 3, 2024, at precisely 2 a.m., marking the return to Standard Time. This adjustment provides an extra hour of sleep but also leads to earlier sunsets and longer nights.

The annual shift serves as a reminder that winter is near. In Illinois, daylight hours will decrease significantly, with sunset occurring around 4:41 p.m. following the time change.

Daylight Saving Time was initially introduced during World War I in the United States to conserve fuel and energy by shifting an hour of daylight from morning to evening. The measure was well-received and revisited during World War II. Congress later enacted the Uniform Time Act of 1966 to standardize DST across states. However, not all U.S. regions participate in this clock change; Arizona, Hawaii, and some U.S. territories remain on standard time year-round.

In recent years, discussions about eliminating time changes have gained momentum. "The Sunshine Protection Act," a bill proposing permanent Daylight Saving Time, has been introduced multiple times in Congress but has not progressed beyond committee discussions despite public support.

Illinois has seen various efforts to abolish biannual time shifts as state lawmakers have proposed bills to either adopt permanent DST or eliminate it altogether. Despite ongoing debates, no permanent resolution has been achieved at state or federal levels. Consequently, Illinoisans will continue observing these seasonal changes.

Daylight Saving Time is set to return on March 9, 2025, when clocks will "spring forward" by one hour again. As people prepare to "fall back," they are reminded to enjoy the extra hour of sleep and adjust their routines for earlier daylight in the mornings.