Get ready to set your clocks back, Nevada.
At 2 a.m. this Sunday, November 2, daylight saving time officially ends.
And yes – we’re still doing this.
Six months ago, lawmakers in Carson City looked ready to end the twice-a-year ritual.
Assembly Bill 81, sponsored by Reno Democrat Selena La Rue Hatch, would have kept Nevada on standard time year-round.
No more “springing forward” or “falling back.”
It had momentum early on: on April 17, 2025, the Assembly passed AB 81 on a 27–15 vote, with support from both parties.
For a brief moment, it looked like Nevada might finally break free from the clock-changing chaos.
Then, the bill hit the Senate – and stopped cold.
AB 81 was referred to the Senate Committee on Government Affairs and never made it out before the committee deadline in May. The bill died for the 2025 session.
Everyone’s Tired of It — Literally
If there’s one thing most Nevadans agree on, it’s that the time change is a pain.
Parents dread getting kids out of bed in the dark. Businesses gripe about confusion and lost productivity.
And research has tied the spring clock change to short-term bumps in car crashes and some health risks – especially right after we “spring forward.” (Not every study finds the same effect, but enough do to make it a real concern.)
It’s one of those rare issues that transcends party lines; it’s less red versus blue, more everyone versus the clock.
So why didn’t lawmakers finish the job?
Doctors Couldn’t Agree on the Fix
Health experts jumped in and made things more complicated.
Sleep-medicine groups generally favor permanent standard time because it lines up better with our natural body clocks.
Others argue for permanent daylight saving time, saying brighter evenings better fit modern schedules and outdoor activity.
With experts making the case both ways, lawmakers hesitated.
A bill that started as common sense turned into a tug-of-war over which “daylight” is healthier.
The Federal Handbrake
Even if Nevada’s Legislature had agreed on which time to keep, their hands were tied by federal law.
States can choose to stay on standard time year-round – like Arizona and Hawaii do – but they can’t make daylight saving time permanent without Congress changing the law.
And good luck getting Congress to agree on anything these days.
Donald Trump has weighed in on both sides over time, supporting permanent DST back in 2019, then calling it a “50-50” issue in March 2025 – and saying he had no immediate plans to change it.
Either way, Congress would still have to act for permanent DST nationwide.
So Nevada – and most of the country – is still stuck flipping clocks every spring and fall.
The Neighbors Are Watching, Too
Arizona already opts out of daylight saving time (except the Navajo Nation) and stays on Mountain Standard Time year-round.
Utah still observes the switch, though lawmakers there have debated changes.
California voters approved Proposition 7 in 2018, giving the Legislature authority (with a two-thirds vote) to move the state to permanent DST – but only if Congress allows it.
Nobody wants to end up out of sync with surrounding states.
Imagine trying to schedule a flight, a TV broadcast, or a conference call if everyone in the West was on a different time.
That’s part of what’s keeping Nevada on the sidelines.
For Now, the Clock Keeps Ticking
Lawmakers had bigger fish to fry this year (although their cooking skills remain debatable), so the time change got pushed aside.
This weekend, Nevada will “fall back” an hour just like always. We’ll “spring forward” again in March.
And we’ll all keep complaining about it together.
Maybe Next Session
It’s a small issue in the grand scheme of things, but it says a lot about how government works – or doesn’t.
Everyone hates it, everyone agrees it’s pointless, and yet nothing changes.
Maybe next session, Nevada lawmakers will finally decide what time it is.
Until then, enjoy that extra hour of sleep – and keep the coffee ready for Monday morning.
The opinions expressed by contributors are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Nevada News & Views. Digital technology was used in the research, writing, and production of this article. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
