SALT LAKE CITY — Daylight saving time returns at 2 a.m. Sunday, so don't forget to spring your clocks forward one hour despite the ongoing attempts in Utah and across the U.S. to end the century-old practice.

While Utah lawmakers passed a record number of bills this year, this issue was not mentioned once after a flurry of proposals over the last few years.

That's because there haven't been any major advancements since the Utah Legislature passed a bill in 2020 that would keep the Beehive State on daylight saving time year-round. The bill is contingent on Congress reforming the Uniform Time Act of 1966; at least four of 10 other Western states also have to pledge to do the same before the process can begin.

Here's where the movement stands.

Several Western states have adopted similar legislation as Utah, according to a list that KING-TV in Seattle published Wednesday showing where all states stand on the matter. Those are:

• Colorado
• Idaho (northern half but not southern half — the northern half is on Pacific time)
• Montana
• Oregon (aside from Malheur County, which is on Mountain time)
• Washington
• Wyoming

The station adds that California, Nevada and New Mexico have kicked around the idea but have not passed legislation on the matter. Arizona, the other state that Utah's law mentions, does not observe daylight saving time in the first place, aside from the Navajo Nation areas in the state.

Related:

Standard time giving way to daylight saving in most of US

Standard time comes to an end in most parts of the United States this weekend. You'll lose an hour of sleep for one night but gain more daylight in the evening in the months ahead.

Of course, it's ultimately up to Congress to complete the change. The U.S. Senate did pass a bill last year that would have made daylight saving time permanent but it didn't clear the House of Representatives in time to land on the president's desk.

Reuters reported in November the proposed legislation hit a snag in the House Energy and Commerce Committee, where different U.S. regions — not political parties — were divided on the issue, according to Rep. Frank Pallone, D-New Jersey.

"There are a broad variety of opinions about whether to keep the status quo, to move to a permanent time, and if so, what time that should be," he told the outlet.

Several federal lawmakers aren't deterred. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Florida, and a bipartisan group of U.S. senators reintroduced the Sunshine Protection Act earlier this month, while a companion law was introduced in the House.

The law would keep everyone on daylight saving time year-round. It also mandates that Arizona, Hawaii and a handful of U.S. territories observe it, too.

"This ritual of changing time twice a year is stupid. Locking the clock has overwhelming bipartisan and popular support," Rubio said in a statement on March 2. "I hope that we can finally get this done."

However, you'll have to keep adjusting your clocks until Congress can come to a consensus on the issue.

Related:

Ever wonder how we got daylight saving time?

Clocks around the country will jump forward one hour beginning at 2 a.m. Sunday for daylight saving time. But have you ever wondered how it came about?

How to stay safe on the roads with the time switch

One of the reasons behind the push is ongoing data that shows health and safety changes every time Americans change their clocks. Zero Fatalities, a joint venture between the Utah Department of Public Safety and Utah Department of Transportation, notes that there are risks on the road because there is suddenly less light in the morning and more drowsiness as a result of changes in a person's sleep cycle.

The program offers some tips for people as they travel:

• Make sure you are awake and alert before driving, walking or biking. Pull over to a safe place and take a power nap if you feel sleepy while driving.
• Drivers should look out for bicyclists, pedestrians or motorcyclists. Slow down in neighborhoods, near schools and around intersections.
• Pedestrians, bicyclists and motorcyclists should also "do everything in their power to be seen by drivers." Reflective gear and lights are recommended.
• Pedestrians should use traffic safety devices, obey traffic laws and make eye contact with drivers.
• All road users should be sober and avoid any distractions by focusing primarily on driving, walking or biking.

The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources is also urging drivers to be mindful of deer while driving because of the time change.

Faith Heaton Jolley, the division's spokeswoman, said this is typically a bigger issue when daylight saving time ends every November because it's during peak migration season for deer; however, with deep snowpacks pushing deer down into valleys this winter, there are more deer in the valleys than usual.

"A lot of them have migrated down lower and are by roadways or are crossing roadways in the valleys," she said. "Even though this isn't a peak time of year for collisions, we're still seeing them right now because there are so many deer in the valleys from snow."

Daylight saving time will remain in effect until 2 a.m. on Nov. 5, when you'll have to adjust your clock again.

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