RE: LeoThread 2025-04-23 01:22
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Yes, there are two states in the United States that do not observe Daylight Saving Time (DST): Hawaii and Arizona (except for the Navajo Nation, which does observe DST).
Hawaii is exempt from DST because of its geographical location near the equator, which means that the amount of daylight throughout the year does not vary as much as in other states.
Arizona, on the other hand, opted out of DST in 1968, citing the hot desert climate and the energy consumption patterns of its residents.
In addition to these two states, some territories and insular areas of the United States, such as American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the United States Virgin Islands, also do not observe DST.
Is it right to presume other states could opt out if they wanted? What I mean, it is a state decision?
While the Uniform Time Act of 1966 established a uniform system of DST across the United States, it also allows states to opt out of observing DST if they choose to do so.
According to federal law, states can exempt themselves from DST, but they must do so uniformly, meaning that the entire state must opt out, not just individual counties or cities.
If a state wants to opt out of DST, it must pass a state law or resolution to that effect, which would then need to be approved by the federal government.
So, in theory, any state could opt out of DST if they wanted to, but it would require a state-level decision and approval from the federal government.
It's worth noting that some states have considered opting out of DST or modifying their DST schedules in recent years, but so far, only Hawaii and Arizona (except for the Navajo Nation) have chosen to do so.
So it is possible for a state to pass a law to opt out and the federal government could reject it?
While the Uniform Time Act of 1966 gives states the authority to opt out of Daylight Saving Time (DST), the federal government still has the final say.
If a state passes a law to opt out of DST, it would need to be approved by the federal government, specifically the Department of Transportation, which oversees time zones and DST.
In theory, the federal government could reject a state's request to opt out of DST, although this has not happened in practice.
In 1966, when the Uniform Time Act was passed, Congress gave states the option to exempt themselves from DST, but it also reserved the right to override state decisions if they conflicted with federal interests.
So, while it's unlikely that the federal government would reject a state's request to opt out of DST, it's not impossible. The federal government could potentially reject a state's request if it deemed that opting out of DST would cause significant disruptions to interstate commerce, transportation, or other federal interests.