Oklahoma Tried to End Daylight Saving Time. Here’s What Happened

Right on schedule, Daylight Saving Time is back again in 2026.

On March 8th, we'll spring forward again for the better part of the year. Same routine. Different year.

What makes it feel a little ridiculous is Oklahoma has already tried to get off this ride.

For years now, the state has had legislation in place that would keep us on permanent Daylight Saving Time. The only problem is we can’t actually do it unless Congress signs off. States are allowed to stay on permanent Standard Time. Permanent Daylight Saving Time takes federal approval, so we did our part.

Now We Wait On Washington...

Oklahoma Senator James Lankford has been one of the loudest voices pushing to make DST permanent nationwide. Back in 2022, the U.S. Senate even passed the Sunshine Protection Act unanimously, which sounded great until you realized it had, and is still stalled in the House. Why is this such a radically different idea?

That's how we ended up here, still changing clocks twice a year.

The part nobody really talks about is that Oklahomans are split right down the middle on which time we actually want. Those who prefer Standard Time want those brighter mornings in the winter. Even you have to admit, waking up in the dark sort of sucks. The other half wants permanent Daylight Saving Time because having that later hour of daylight around the depths of Christmas sounds good too.

It’s Basically 50-50

Personally, I’d almost flip it. Give me more evening light in December and January when it’s dark before dinner. But in July, I don’t need full sunshine pushing into the house at 9:30 PM. That’s just me.

The newest idea is now a compromise between the two cold-warring sides. Split it on the half-hour. Move the clocks forward 30 minutes this spring and never touch them again. It sounds odd at first, but half-hour time zones aren’t unheard of globally. It would land us right between Standard and Daylight Saving Time. Not fully either one. Everyone wins to an extent, but that's a very long shot.

Realistically, most people I talk to don’t seem dug in on which version wins. They’re just tired of changing it twice a year.

March 8 is coming fast. If you care one way or the other, there’s still the rest of the year to remind Congress that the decision is sitting there waiting. Or at the very least, to ask them to pick one and stick with it. Until then, set the clocks forward and try not to have a heart attack on March 9th.