South Dakota: Does the state observe daylight saving time?
South Dakota observes daylight saving time under federal law and has not passed a law to change that.
South Dakota has no state law exempting itself, so the federal Uniform Time Act's clock change applies in both its Central and Mountain time areas. A 2025 bill to put the state on standard time all year (SB 186) did not become law, and a 2020 bill for year-round daylight saving time also failed. This answer is inferred from federal law plus the absence of any state exemption.
What the law says
During the period commencing at 2 o'clock antemeridian on the second Sunday of March of each year and ending at 2 o'clock antemeridian on the first Sunday of November of each year, the standard time of each zone established by sections 261 to 264 of this title, as modified by section 265 of this title, shall be advanced one hour
Sources
- 15 U.S.C. 260a (Cornell LII) Mirror of official text · law.cornell.edu
- SDCL Chapter 1-5, Time and Dates Official · sdlegislature.gov
- SD Legislature, 2025 SB 186 (establish standard time) Official · sdlegislature.gov
- NCSL, Daylight Saving Time State Legislation Secondary · ncsl.org
- U.S. Department of Transportation: Daylight Saving Time Official · transportation.gov
Confirm with the state
- Agency
- South Dakota Legislative Research Council
- Website
- sdlegislature.gov
How bordering states compare
- Iowa Observes DSTIowa observes daylight saving time under state law and has not enacted a law to change that.
- Minnesota Observes DST, law to go year-roundMinnesota observes daylight saving time but enacted a 2021 law to stay on it year-round once federal law allows.
- Montana Observes DST, law to go year-roundMontana observes daylight saving time but enacted a 2021 law for year-round Mountain Daylight Time once approvals are in place.
- Nebraska Observes DSTNebraska observes daylight saving time under state law and has not enacted a year-round time law.
- North Dakota Observes DSTNorth Dakota observes daylight saving time; 2025 bills to drop it or go year-round failed.
- Wyoming Observes DST, law to go year-roundWyoming observes daylight saving time and has a 2020 law to stay on it all year if Congress and three other western states act.
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