When do we change clocks in Florida? Daylight saving time 2026 explained

Kim Luciani, Cheryl McCloud and Lianna Norman, USA TODAY NETWORK - FloridaWed, September 16, 2026 at 7:09 PM UTC

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Ready or not, earlier sunrises and sunsets are on Florida's horizon.

It's nearly time for a time change as daylight saving time comes to an end and we "fall back" one hour to standard time. Daylight saving time begins on the second Sunday in March and ends on the first Sunday in November.

Florida approved permanent daylight saving time in 2018, but without congressional approval, the time changes will continue. The U.S. House passed permanent daylight saving time on Jul. 14. The Sunshine Protection Act (H.R. 139) is now with the Senate, but as of Sept. 16, no vote has been scheduled.

When does daylight saving time end in 2026?

Daylight saving time for 2026 ends on Sunday, Nov. 1, at 2 a.m., when clocks will "fall back" an hour to 1 a.m.

Sunrise and sunset will be about an hour earlier on Nov. 1 than the day before, meaning there will be more light in the morning and less light in the evening.

Will Florida clocks fall back in 2026?

Will Floridians finally see permanent daylight saving time in 2026 or will they have to adjust their clocks in November?

Florida approved permanent daylight saving time in 2018. But without approval from Congress, the time changes will continue.

Is it daylight saving or daylight savings?

While "daylight savings time" is commonly used, the correct term is daylight saving time without the ending "s."

Is daylight saving time permanent this year?

The Sunshine Protection Act was approved by the U.S. House of Representatives on Jul. 14, which is one step closer to allowing states to make daylight saving time permanent.

The legislation now must be passed by the Senate and signed into law by President Trump, who has long supported making daylight saving time permanent.

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Unless the Senate supports making daylight saving time permanent, and President Trump signs it into law before Nov. 1, most Americans will again move their clocks back one hour to return to standard time.

H.R. 139, known as the Sunshine Protection Act, was filed Jan. 3, 2025, by Rep. Vern Buchanan, Florida-District 16. Buchanan has brought the Sunshine Protection Act before each Congress since 2018.

Trump has repeatedly supported the shift to permanent daylight saving time and has been asking senators to pass the Sunshine Protection Act ASAP.

These states, including Florida, want permanent daylight saving time

Nineteen states have enacted legislation that would implement permanent daylight saving time if and when such action is passed by Congress:

Alabama

Colorado

Delaware

Florida

Georgia

Idaho

Louisiana

Maine

Minnesota

Mississippi

Montana

Oklahoma

Oregon

South Carolina

Tennessee

Texas

Utah

Washington

Wyoming

Florida sunrises, sunsets under permanent daylight saving time

Florida would see the same amount of daylight no matter whether its daylight saving or standard time.

The difference is when that daylight occurs.

Permanent daylight saving time in Florida would mean darker mornings in fall and winter — with some winter sunrises not happening until after 8 a.m. — and more light in the evenings.

Summers would be as they are now, with bright mornings and long evenings, with plenty of time to be outside after work, but without the dread of another time change coming.

Kim Luciani is a journalist for the USA TODAY Network-Florida's Audience team. Cheryl McCloud and Lianna Norman are journalists for the USA TODAY Network-Florida's service journalism Connect team. You can get all of Florida’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY, at https://heraldtribune.com/newsletters.

This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: When do we change clocks in Florida? Daylight saving time 2026 explained

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