Daylight Saving Time Ends At The Earliest Possible Time This Year

(KMDL-FM) Daylight Saving Time would be the poster child for the phrase "When all is said and done, more gets said than ever gets done". Because once again, the often maligned movement of the clocks appears to be barreling in our direction like a runaway train.

silhouette of plant during sunset

Even though we have bodies of lawmakers that have passed legislation that would stop that biannual spring forward/fall back mantra, it looks as though we're still going to keep doing it, at least for one more time. And that "one more time" appears to be scheduled for the earliest possible date that we can "officially fall back".

Why Is September 14th a Key Date in the Daylight Saving Time Debate?

The key date you need to remember in the Daylight Saving Time debate is September 14, 2026. No, that's not the date we'd adjust the clocks; that's the date the United States Senate is scheduled to take up the debate and discussion on the Sunshine Protection Act.

Sean Rayford, Getty Images

The Sunshine Protection Act is the official name of the legislation that was debated and approved by the United States House of Representatives earlier this year. The hope was that the House had passed the measure with enough time for the Senate to review the legislation before the August recess, but that did not play out as planned.

Incidentally, the House-passed legislation would lock the clocks on Daylight Saving Time nationwide. The recurring theme for debate and discussion with this plan is concerns over how late the sun would rise in some parts of the country. That late sunrise has sparked safety debates, especially involving school zone traffic and safety.

Under Permanent Daylight Saving Time - What's the Latest the Sun Would Rise?

Cars and bus on foggy street at night

Just to give you an idea of what that would look like, it appears as though late December and early January would be the days when Lafayette, Lake Charles, and the I-10 corridor would experience our latest sunrises. Based on our research, it looks as if a sunrise of 8:05 am would be "normal" for that time of year.

Just as a point of reference, the sun will rise in Lafayette, Louisiana today at 6:36 am. So, we're talking approximately 90 more minutes of darkness in the morning during the winter should permanent Daylight Saving Time become the law of the land.

Will Permanent Daylight Saving Time Become Law This Year?

Should the Senate convene and pass the Sunshine Protection Act immediately on their return from recess, we might not have to worry about falling back this year. But, based on how the governmental process on this issue has been moving, I think it's a pretty safe bet you're going to have to adjust that clock one more time.

READ MORE: Why Permanent Daylight Saving Time Might Not Happen at All

The date for "fall back" is November 1st. It's the earliest possible date we could switch from Daylight Saving Time to Standard Time, and yes, it will happen over Halloween night. Which should be great for bars and watering holes to extend their service by one hour since the clocks fall back at 2 am.

READ MORE: Why Permanent Daylight Saving Time Didn't Work Last Time

Now, about those places to go get a drink...