Yes, Oregon observes Daylight Saving Time. Clocks across almost all of the state shift forward one hour on the second Sunday of March and fall back one hour on the first Sunday of November. In 2026, that means springing forward on Sunday, March 8, and falling back on Sunday, November 1. A portion of Malheur County in the southeast corner of the state sits in the Mountain Time Zone and changes clocks on the same dates, but stays one hour ahead of the rest of Oregon year-round.
When Oregon Clocks Change
Oregon follows the federal schedule. At 2:00 a.m. on the second Sunday of March, clocks jump ahead one hour, moving from Pacific Standard Time to Pacific Daylight Time. At 2:00 a.m. on the first Sunday of November, clocks fall back one hour to standard time.1Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 15 USC 260a – Advancement of Time or Changeover Dates Oregon’s own statute mirrors the federal schedule and prohibits any county, city, or state agency from using a different time standard.2Oregon Public Law. ORS 187.110 – Standard of Time
For 2026, the exact shifts are:
- Spring forward: Sunday, March 8, 2026 at 2:00 a.m.
- Fall back: Sunday, November 1, 2026 at 2:00 a.m.
Daylight Saving Time runs for roughly eight months of the year. During that stretch, Oregon trades darker mornings for an extra hour of evening sunlight.
The Malheur County Exception
Most of Oregon sits in the Pacific Time Zone, but a large portion of Malheur County, in the state’s southeastern corner, follows Mountain Time. The boundary is set by federal regulation and runs along the north and west lines of the county before cutting east to the Idaho border.3eCFR. 49 CFR 71.9 – Boundary Line Between Mountain and Pacific Zones The practical effect is that this corner of Oregon runs on the same clock as neighboring Idaho rather than the rest of the state.
Malheur County still observes the same biannual time change on the same dates. The difference is purely the zone. When Portland is on Pacific Standard Time, the Mountain Time portion of Malheur County is on Mountain Standard Time, always one hour ahead.
Is Oregon Going to Stop Changing Clocks?
Not in 2026. Oregon has passed laws aimed at ending the biannual switch, but each is contingent on things that have not happened yet.
The 2019 Law
In 2019, Oregon passed a law authorizing permanent Daylight Saving Time for the Pacific Time Zone portion of the state. It only takes effect if California and Washington make the same change and if Congress passes a law allowing states to observe permanent DST. The statute includes a sunset clause and will be repealed automatically on December 1, 2029, if those conditions are not met.2Oregon Public Law. ORS 187.110 – Standard of Time As of early 2026, Congress has not acted, so the 2019 law remains dormant.
Senate Bill 1038
A newer proposal, Senate Bill 1038, covers both directions. It would put Oregon on permanent standard time if California and Washington follow suit within 10 years. Alternatively, if Congress authorizes permanent DST and both neighboring states adopt it, Oregon would lock clocks in the spring-forward position instead. The Mountain Time Zone portion of the state would be unaffected either way. As of 2026, SB 1038 has passed the Oregon Senate and sits in the House Committee on Rules.4Oregon State Legislature. SB 1038, 2025 Regular Session An earlier bill in 2024, SB 1548, took a similar approach but died in committee.5Oregon State Legislature. SB 1548, 2024 Regular Session
What Federal Law Allows
Any state can opt out of Daylight Saving Time entirely and stay on permanent standard time year-round. Hawaii and most of Arizona have done exactly that.1Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 15 USC 260a – Advancement of Time or Changeover Dates What a state cannot do without an act of Congress is adopt permanent Daylight Saving Time. The federal Sunshine Protection Act would change that, and the latest version, H.R. 139, was introduced in January 2025 and referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.6Congress.gov. H.R. 139 – Sunshine Protection Act of 2025 A nearly identical Senate bill passed unanimously in 2022 but stalled in the House and expired.
Why Oregon Is Waiting on Its Neighbors
Oregon’s approach of tying its time change to California and Washington is practical. If Oregon locked its clocks while its neighbors kept switching, the time difference between Portland and Seattle or Portland and San Francisco would swing between zero and one hour depending on the season. Washington passed its own permanent DST law in 2019, and California voters approved a 2018 ballot proposition giving their legislature authority to do the same. Neither state can act without Congress, so all three West Coast states are in a holding pattern.
Adjusting Your Clocks
Until Oregon’s law changes, the time change is mandatory. Phones, computers, and most smart devices update automatically. Wall clocks, oven timers, car dashboards, and standalone alarm clocks need manual adjustment. Missing the shift forward in March is the more costly mistake, since losing an hour can mean showing up late to work, appointments, or flights. If you live in the Mountain Time portion of Malheur County, you change clocks on the same dates as the rest of the state, but double-check which zone your devices think you are in.