The Tennessean

If that proposed legislation to make daylight-saving time permanent in Tennessee has you dreaming of an endless summer, you may be in for a rude awakening.

No matter what happens in Tennessee, it will take an act of Congress before anything changes with how we keep our clocks.

Federal law would make it easier if we wanted to opt out of DST — which Arizona and Hawaii have done — but extending DST would require federal action.

Why?

The Department of Transportation is responsible for oversight of the nation's time zones. The last major change to DST occurred when President George W. Bush signed the Energy Policy Act of 2005, which extended it beginning in 2007. Prior to that, DST ran from the first Sunday in April to the last Sunday in October.

But there could be momentum for change in the near future.

President Donald Trump tweeted last month that he'd be OK with making Daylight Saving Time permanent.

And as more states try to force the issue, it's the rare political topic that has bi-partisan support.

Legislators in Arkansas and Washington have approved resolutions endorsing permanent DST. Oregon's Gov. Kate Brown noted that it was a rare area where she agreed with Trump.

And Nashville's Metro Council approved a nonbinding resolution to encourage state lawmakers to consider making DST permanent.

So what's a sun-loving Tennessean to do to encourage lawmakers to consider the change?

Contact your Congressional representative and let them know the (Daylight Saving) time for action is now.

DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME:Arkansas House approves Daylight Saving Time resolution

DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME:Permanent daylight saving in Oregon? 'Hell yes,' says Gov. Kate Brown

DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME:Washington state lawmakers vote to make daylight saving time year-round