South Carolina does not currently observe daylight saving time permanently but has passed laws and taken steps toward ending the twice-yearly clock changes and adopting year-round daylight saving time. The very simple reason behind South Carolina’s position is its desire to eliminate the confusing biannual clock shifts and remain on daylight saving time permanently once it is federally authorized.
The state law advances the clocks by one hour starting in March 2025 and requests a federal waiver through the U.S. Secretary of Transportation to keep that change year-round without adjusting clocks again. This approach follows federal guidelines allowing states to either exempt themselves from daylight saving time or adopt it year-round with federal approval, providing South Carolina a pathway to avoid the spring-forward/fall-back ritual that disrupts schedules.
Along with South Carolina, Alabama is notable as another state that has passed legislation aiming to make daylight saving time permanent pending federal approval.
South Carolina passed a bill to make daylight saving time permanent starting March 2025.
The state Attorney General will submit a waiver request to the federal government to allow this change.
The goal is to end the twice-yearly clock changes and remain on daylight saving time year-round.
Other states like Alabama are pursuing similar permanent daylight saving time legislation.
This depends on federal authorization, as states cannot unilaterally change the observance times without federal approval.
SOURCES
(https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/news/local/south-carolina/2021/10/27/sc-fall-back-daylight-saving-time-when-dst-ends-2021/8550125002/)
(https://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess126_2025-2026/bills/3325.htm)(https://www.npr.org/2022/11/06/1134562545/daylight-saving-time-permanent-states)(https://thehill.com/homenews/nexstar_media_wire/5149485-daylight-saving-time-2025-these-states-are-trying-to-lock-the-clocks/)
(https://www.transportation.gov/regulations/daylight-saving-time)
