Tennessee: Does the state observe daylight saving time?
Tennessee observes daylight saving time and has a 2019 law to stay on it all year once Congress allows it.
A 2019 law (Public Chapter 416) says Tennessee will observe daylight saving time all year, but only after three steps: Congress changes federal law, the state transportation commissioner certifies that in writing, and the legislature confirms it by joint resolution. The switch would start the first Sunday of November after those steps. A 2026 bill to move to year-round standard time (HB 2071) stalled in committee.
Conditions
- Congress must authorize year-round daylight saving time
- Transportation commissioner must certify the federal change
- Legislature must confirm by joint resolution
What the law says
This state shall observe the advancement of time provided in 15 U.S.C. § 260a at all times throughout the year, and daylight saving time will be the standard time of the entire state and all of its political subdivisions upon compliance with the following conditions: (A) The United States congress amending or repealing 15 U.S.C. § 260a to authorize states to observe daylight saving time year round; (B) The commissioner of transportation certifying in writing to the speakers of the senate and the house of representatives the congressional action described in subdivision (d)(1)(A); and (C) The general assembly, by joint resolution, confirming the congressional action described in subdivision (d)(1)(A) and authorizing the implementation of the state's observation of daylight saving time year round.
Sources
- Tenn. Code Ann. § 4-1-401 (FindLaw) Mirror of official text · codes.findlaw.com
- Tennessee General Assembly, HB 0247 (Public Chapter 416, 2019) Official · wapp.capitol.tn.gov
- Tennessee General Assembly, HB 2071 (2026) Official · wapp.capitol.tn.gov
Confirm with the state
- Agency
- Tennessee General Assembly
- Website
- capitol.tn.gov
How bordering states compare
- Alabama Observes DST, law to go year-roundAlabama changes its clocks for daylight saving time, but a 2021 law would keep it on daylight time all year if Congress allows.
- Arkansas Observes DSTArkansas observes daylight saving time and has no enacted law to change that.
- Georgia Observes DST, law to go year-roundGeorgia observes daylight saving time, but a 2021 law would keep it on daylight time all year if Congress allows.
- Kentucky Observes DSTKentucky observes daylight saving time and has not enacted a law to change that.
- Mississippi Observes DST, law to go year-roundMississippi observes daylight saving time but passed a 2021 law to stay on it year-round if Congress allows.
- Missouri Observes DSTMissouri observes daylight saving time; no law to change that has been enacted, though the House passed a trigger bill in 2026.
- North Carolina Observes DSTNorth Carolina observes daylight saving time and has not enacted a law to change it.
- Virginia Observes DSTVirginia observes daylight saving time under federal law and has not enacted a law to change that.