So, Tennessee passed a law back in May to observe Daylight Saving Time ‘year round’. Why then are we still turning clocks back tonight?

Even though Tennessee’s new law said it will scrap the twice-annual time shift — the state isn’t the only one who would be affected by the change. Interstate commerce would have to adapt, so it is also a federal matter and the Federal Government has to approve the new Tennessee law for it to take effect.

U.S. Congress must next pass a federal law to amend the Uniform Time Act of 1966 to exempt states so they can individually observe Daylight Saving Time year-round. Once that happens, Tennessee and other states like Florida that have approved similar legislation are free to make the change final.

President Trump has said he likes the idea of permanent daylight saving nationwide.

Florida Sen. Marco Rubio introduced legislation this session called the ‘Sunshine Protection Act of 2019’ that would do just that. The bill has been sitting in the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee since March.

Here’s the weird part.  The Uniform Time Act does allow states to opt-out of Daylight Saving Time and stay on Standard Time but not the other way around. That is how states like most of Arizona and Hawaii have been able to avoid jumping back and forth an hour every year.

So until the U.S. Congress decides to take action on the new Tennessee Law – we still must readjust our internal clocks twice a year.