NewsWFLA News TampaOctober 30, 2026Hillsborough County
Clocks fall back an hour as lawmakers and residents debate Daylight Saving Time
Photo: WFLA News Tampa
Clocks are set to fall back an hour this upcoming Sunday, reigniting a nationwide debate over whether to keep the biannual time change or make Daylight Saving Time permanent. While lawmakers in Washington discuss the Sunshine Protection Act, medical professionals and researchers note mixed health effects, including temporary sleep disruptions and shifts in depressive symptoms.
Read the full story at WFLA News TampaWhy It Matters
Residents across the country will adjust their clocks by one hour, impacting daily routines, morning school bus safety, and temporary health metrics such as depressive episodes and heart attack rates.
Key Facts
- Clocks are scheduled to fall back an hour this upcoming Sunday.
- President Trump voiced opposition to changing clocks twice a year during a campaign rally in Mississippi.
- Federal lawmakers are debating the Sunshine Protection Act, which would make Daylight Saving Time permanent.
- A Gallup poll from 2025 indicated that 54% of U.S. adults prefer standard time year-round.
- Physician Daryl Ellis noted that turning clocks back can exacerbate depressive disorders and present risks for children waiting for school buses.
- Psychology professor Brandt Smith stated that humans typically adjust to the time change within a few days to a week, accompanied by minor temporary fluctuations in depressive episodes and heart attacks.
Who's Mentioned
PersonBrandt Smith“Psychology professor at Columbus State University”OrganizationWhite House“Mentioned in the context of the national time change debate”locationColumbus“Dateline city in Georgia”OrganizationPiedmont Columbus Regional“Medical facility employing Dr. Daryl Ellis”PersonTrump“President commenting on the biannual clock changes and the sunshine protection a”PersonDaryl Ellis“Physician discussing the downsides of turning clocks back”OrganizationColumbus State University“University where Brandt Smith works”OrganizationGallup“Polling organization that conducted a 2025 survey”locationMississippi“Location of a campaign rally where comments were made”locationWashington“Location where lawmakers debate time legislation”