Iowa is not getting rid of daylight saving time. The state still follows the national schedule, and in 2026 clocks spring forward at 2:00 a.m. on March 8 and fall back at 2:00 a.m. on November 1.1Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 15 USC 260a – Advancement of Time or Changeover Dates Iowa lawmakers have tried repeatedly to end the twice-yearly switch by locking the state into permanent daylight saving time, but federal law stands in the way, and Congress has not cleared it.
What Iowa Lawmakers Have Tried
The push for permanent DST in Iowa has been bipartisan and persistent. In 2022, House File 2331 passed the Iowa House on an 82–13 vote. It would have made daylight saving time Iowa’s year-round standard, but only if Congress first authorized states to do so.2Iowa Legislature. Iowa House File 2331 – Reprinted The Senate never took it up.
The current 2025–2026 session has Senate File 90, which carries essentially the same goal. Even if SF 90 passes both chambers and the governor signs it, it cannot take effect until federal law changes.
Why Iowa Cannot Act on Its Own
Federal law controls which time a state keeps. Under 15 U.S.C. § 260a, a state may opt out of daylight saving time and stay on permanent standard time, which is what Arizona and most of Hawaii have done. The statute does not run the other way: there is no mechanism for a state to adopt permanent daylight saving time by itself.1Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 15 USC 260a – Advancement of Time or Changeover Dates
So Iowa has two legal paths and only two. It can keep switching clocks as it does now, or it can stay on Central Standard Time year-round. The option Iowa’s legislature actually wants, permanent DST with later evening sunlight, requires Congress to amend the Uniform Time Act.
Where the Federal Bill Stands
Iowa is one of at least 19 states that have enacted legislation to move to year-round daylight saving time, all contingent on Congress allowing the shift. On the federal side, the Sunshine Protection Act would provide that authorization. The Senate unanimously passed a version in 2022, but it died in the House without a vote.
The bill has been reintroduced in the 119th Congress. The Senate version, S. 29, was referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation in January 2025.3Congress.gov. S.29 – 119th Congress (2025-2026) Sunshine Protection Act of 2025 A companion, H.R. 139, was introduced in the House.4Congress.gov. H.R.139 – 119th Congress (2025-2026) Sunshine Protection Act of 2025 As of early 2026, neither has advanced out of committee. Years of strong rhetoric have not produced final action, and there is no clear sign this Congress will be different.
What Permanent Daylight Saving Time Would Mean in Iowa
Permanent DST sounds simple, but the winter effect in Iowa surprises some people. Clocks under DST sit an hour ahead of standard time. In summer that difference barely registers because sunrise is early anyway. In December and January it is pronounced. Des Moines currently sees sunrise around 7:30 a.m. on the shortest days of the year. Under permanent DST, sunrise would move to roughly 8:30 a.m., so school-age children would be waiting for buses and walking to school in full darkness well into the morning.
Supporters argue the tradeoff is worth it for an extra hour of evening daylight year-round, which they say benefits retail activity, outdoor recreation, and general well-being. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine generally prefers permanent standard time because clock time would more closely match the solar cycle, which research suggests is better for sleep and circadian health. Iowa’s legislature has consistently sided with permanent DST, but the underlying argument is not one-sided.
The Bottom Line for Iowans
Iowa will keep changing clocks until Congress acts. The state legislature has voted overwhelmingly for permanent DST and has a fresh bill in play, but the decisive vote is in Washington, not Des Moines. For 2026, plan on moving clocks forward on March 8 and back on November 1.