California: Does the state observe daylight saving time?
California observes daylight saving time; a 2018 ballot measure lets lawmakers change that, but no change has been enacted.
State law moves clocks ahead one hour from March to November. Voters approved Proposition 7 in 2018, which lets the Legislature switch to year-round daylight time by a two-thirds vote if federal law allows it. The Legislature has not passed that law, so it does not count as a trigger law. A 2026 bill for permanent standard time, SB 1197, was held in committee in May 2026.
What the law says
(b) The standard time within the state shall advance by one hour during the daylight saving time period commencing at 2 a.m. on the second Sunday of March of each year and ending at 2 a.m. on the first Sunday of November of each year. (c) Notwithstanding subdivision (b), the Legislature may amend this section by a two-thirds vote to change the dates and times of the daylight saving time period, consistent with federal law, and, if federal law authorizes the state to provide for the year-round application of daylight saving time, the Legislature may amend this section by a two-thirds vote to provide for that application.
Sources
- Cal. Gov. Code 6808 (FindLaw) Mirror of official text · codes.findlaw.com
- NCSL, Daylight Saving Time State Legislation Secondary · ncsl.org
- SB 1197 (2025-2026) bill history Official · leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
Confirm with the state
- Agency
- California State Legislature
- Website
- legislature.ca.gov
How bordering states compare
- Arizona No DST (standard time all year)Arizona does not observe daylight saving time and stays on Mountain Standard Time all year.
- Nevada Observes DSTNevada observes daylight saving time; bills to exempt the state or change its time have not become law.
- Oregon Observes DST, law to go year-roundOregon observes daylight saving time; a 2019 law moves it to year-round if California and Washington do the same.
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