Politics of the sun: When does daylight saving time start and why do we spring forward?

The sun waits for no one ... except the U.S. House of Representatives.

A bill authored by Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Florida) would end the practice of springing forward and falling back (with clocks). It's called the Sunshine Protection Act, and it has yet to gain approval in the House. So, we wait for politics to play out.

The second Sunday in March (March 12) is the day for moving the big hand forward by one hour. For those keeping track, the first Sunday in November is the day we all thank goodness for that extra hour of sleep. Why it is done that way is often attributed to Benjamin Franklin (what isn't attributed to the old lightning rod?). But the advantages and disadvantages of playing with time have been argued for forever.

Is Tennessee getting rid of daylight saving time?

In Tennessee, Gov. Bill Lee has proclaimed his support for ending clock management. But the Volunteer State has vowed to wait until the federal government makes the change before it acts.

So the sun waits.

Which states do not have daylight saving time?

Hawaii and parts of Arizona are already clock change-free zones, as well as American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands.

More:Daylight saving time is still a thing in Tennessee — at least for now

When did Tennessee and the U.S. adopt daylight saving time?

The idea started in Germany in 1916 as a way to save power during WWI. The U.S. followed suit in 1918, but abolished the practice after the war. Since the Roaring 20s, U.S. states can choose when they will spring forward and fall back. Most of them, including Tennessee, have decided to do it in unison.

President Joe Biden has not yet taken a position on Daylight Savings Time. So even if congress passes the bill, it will need a presidential signature to go into effect.

So we wait.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Daylight saving time 2023: When do we spring forward in Tennessee