Is Daylight Saving Time Getting Canceled in Michigan?

You know that Daylight Saving Time is quickly approaching, right? Don't get caught off guard, the annual spring-forward ritual is set for Sunday, March 10, at 2:00 am, giving us an hour of extra daylight in the evening.

But is the bi-annual clock-change ritual close to getting canceled in Michigan?

SEE ALSO:  Michigan TV Viewers Continue Cutting the Cord in Record Numbers

Rumors Fly Regarding Daylight Saving Time

You've probably heard rumors that Michigan's legislature has taken steps toward abolishing the twice-yearly time change. In fact, many states have already taken measures to stay on Daylight Saving Time Permanently, a move that is often referred to as "lock the clock."

Michigan is indeed one of those states.

Michigan's House of Representatives passed a bill in April 2021 that would put Michigan on "permanent Daylight Saving Time," meaning we would 'spring forward' and never look back.

However, there are some big hurdles to cross before that measure becomes the law of the land.

The bill also states that abolishing the yearly time change will take effect only if all of the states listed below are on board and decide to follow Daylight Saving Time year-round as well. Those five states are:

• Wisconsin
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Ohio
• Pennsylvania

So in 2024, Daylight Saving Time is only temporary in Michigan as we will return to Standard Time on November 3.

So Where Do Those Other States Stand?

It appears that all five states are in limbo over this matter, just like Michigan.

• According to WZZM, Wisconsin's last attempt to abolish DST was scrapped in 2017.
• Seven bills were introduced in the Illinois House in 2021, but all of those bills have died without going to a vote in the state legislature.
• Indiana currently has no pending legislation related to DST. The Hoosier State's counties are split between the Eastern and Central Times zones.
• Ohio State Rep. Rodney Creech says he plans to introduce a bill that would make DST permanent. A similar bill in 2021 passed the House but was voted down by the State Senate.
• In 2021, a measure to make DST permanent passed the Pennsylvania House but died in the State Senate.

So in other words, we're stuck in a perpetual loop.

Federal Law Stands in the Way

Regardless of legislation approved by any states on their own, none of those laws can take effect until the federal government repeals the Uniform Time Act of 1966. While the measure allows individual states to opt out of switching to Daylight Saving Time each year, it does not give states the power to establish permanent Daylight Saving Time.

Don't Forget

And of course, we couldn't talk about Daylight Saving Time without unearthing this gem we snapped from a few years back. Our most sincere thanks to WNEM Channel 5 in Saginaw for arguably the best typo of all time, one that can thankfully become relevant again every year around this time. It has become our favorite holiday.