Floridians Turn Clocks Back Despite New Law

WFSU | By Shawn Mulcahy

Published November 2, 2018 at 3:59 PM EDT

Daylight Saving Time ends Sunday, despite lawmakers passing a law to keep Florida on it year-round.

When Floridians turned their clocks forward in March, lawmakers hoped it’d be for the last time. But despite the law residents still have to "fall back" Sunday.

The Sunshine Protection Act would keep Florida in Daylight Saving Time year-round. It passed the Florida Legislature in March and Governor Rick Scott signed it into law.

State Rep. Greg Steube (R-Sarasota) said the change would be good for families.

“I think the payoff is for, especially families with young children, they don’t have to deal with families having to deal with young children having to deal with falling back and having trouble getting to school and having trouble doing all those things,” said Steube.

Proponents argue that extra hour of daylight means an extra hour of beach time. And that would be a big boost to the state’s tourism industry.

But this type of legislation needs Congressional approval, and so far they’ve been slow to act. Sen. Marco Rubio’s (R) office said if there’s no action by the Commerce Committee before it expires, he plans to reintroduce the bill next session.

For now, Floridians will get an extra hour of sleep this Sunday.