Florida voted to stay on daylight saving time year-round back in 2018, and the U.S. House passed a national version in July, 308-117. Clocks still go back an hour at 2 a.m. Sunday.
Clocks fall back an hour at 2 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 1, in Florida and most of the country, even though Florida lawmakers voted years ago to stop changing them.
That means an extra hour of sleep tonight and an earlier sunset starting Sunday, from Orlando to Anaheim.
It also means the fix Florida has been pushing since 2018 still isn't law.
When does daylight saving time end in 2026?
At 2 a.m. local time on Sunday, Nov. 1, when clocks go back to 1 a.m. Phones, smartwatches and most cable boxes update on their own, but microwaves, ovens and car clocks usually need a hand.
Daylight saving time comes back on Sunday, March 14, 2027, when clocks spring forward an hour again.
Why does Florida still change its clocks?
Because federal law won't let it stop. In 2018, the Florida Legislature passed the Sunshine Protection Act to keep the state on daylight saving time all year, and then-Gov. Rick Scott signed it.
The catch is that federal law lets states stay on standard time all year, the way Hawaii and most of Arizona do, but not on daylight saving time. So Florida's law can't kick in unless Congress changes the rules.
What happened to the federal Sunshine Protection Act?
It got further this year than ever before. The House passed H.R. 139, the Sunshine Protection Act, 308-117 on July 14, sending it to the Senate. The bill's sponsor is Rep. Vern Buchanan, a Florida Republican, and President Trump has said he supports making daylight saving time permanent.
The Senate hasn't voted on it since. The bill was referred to the Senate Commerce Committee, and a Senate version filed by Florida Sen. Rick Scott in January 2025 had also been sitting in committee.
This has happened before in reverse. The Senate passed an earlier version by unanimous consent in March 2022, but the House never took it up, and the bill died when that Congress ended.
Is this the last time clocks fall back?
This one is happening no matter what. Even if the Senate took up the bill right away, Sunday's switch would still go ahead, so plan on falling back tonight.
Supporters say later sunsets are better for tourism, outdoor time and safety on the drive home. Critics, including many sleep scientists, have argued that permanent standard time would be healthier, since winter mornings stay dark longer under year-round daylight saving time.
Does Disneyland's time change too?
Yes. California falls back at 2 a.m. Sunday as well. California voters approved Proposition 7 in 2018, which opened the door to year-round daylight saving time, but like Florida, the state can't make the switch without Congress. Anaheim and Orlando stay three hours apart, since both switch at the same local time.
What should you do before bed tonight?
Set the clocks that don't change themselves, like the microwave, oven and car. Fire departments also use the time change as a yearly reminder to test smoke alarms and swap their batteries.
If you have an early alarm Sunday, check that it's set on a phone or clock that updates automatically.
What does the time change mean for a Disney World trip?
Mostly, darker evenings. Sunset in Orlando comes about an hour earlier starting Sunday, so more of a park day after dinner happens after dark.
That timing works out for holiday visitors. Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party starts Nov. 8 and Disney Jollywood Nights starts Nov. 7, and the lights, castle projections and fireworks all look their best once the sky goes dark.
Park hours, dining reservations and Lightning Lane return times are posted in local time, so a 7 p.m. dinner is still at 7 p.m. on the new clock.
Article compiled and written by Kambrea Pratt (editor-in-chief), Derek Gibbs (beat editor) and the Pirates & Princesses newsroom. Pirates & Princesses is part of WebReef Media.
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Hat Tips:
House Energy and Commerce Committee (July 14, 2026), H.R. 139 passage and sponsor
WSLS (July 14, 2026), 308-117 vote and Senate next step
GovTrack (2026), H.R. 139 referred to the Senate committee
Wikipedia, Sunshine Protection Act (2026), 2022 Senate passage, 2025 Senate bill, Florida's 2018 law
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