We’re still in the dark, cold days of winter but take heart. Spring – and the time change – is just around the corner.

Daylight saving time will start on Sunday, March 9. The “spring forward” changeover officially takes place at 2 a.m., when we move the clocks ahead by one hour, meaning sunrise and sunset will be about one hour later on March 9 than the day before and there will be more light in the evening and less in the morning.

We will remain on DST until Nov. 2 when we “fall back” to standard time and set the clocks back one hour.

DST, a wartime idea first observed in 1918 to conserve energy, is recognized in every U.S. state except for Hawaii and most of Arizona. It starts each year on the second Sunday in March and ends on the first Sunday in November, a schedule first instituted in 2007 after the passage of the Energy Policy Act of 2005.

The idea remains controversial. In 2022, the Senate unanimously approved the Sunshine Protection Act to make DST the year-round standard. The measure failed in the House, however. Since then, 19 states have passed laws that would move to DST if it is ever approved by Congress.

Last week, Sen. Rick Scott, R-Florida, joined by Senators including Alabama’s Tommy Tuberville and Katie Britt, introduced the “Lock the Clock” bill to end the twice-yearly time change and make DST year-round.

“I hear from Americans constantly that they are sick and tired of changing their clocks twice a year – it’s an unnecessary, decades-old practice that’s more of an annoyance to families than benefit to them,” Scott said. “I’m excited to have President Trump back in the White House and fully on board to Lock the Clock so we can get this good bill passed and make this common-sense change that will simplify and benefit the lives of American families.”