Minnesota Stays in Daylight Saving Limbo as North Dakota Moves Forward

Minnesota’s plan to adopt permanent Daylight Saving Time (DST) is still stuck in neutral, awaiting federal approval. Meanwhile, neighboring North Dakota has taken a bold step toward switching to permanent standard time.
This week, the North Dakota House passed legislation to end the biannual time change. If approved by the state Senate and Governor Doug Burgum, North Dakota would remain on standard time year-round. This move would create a time difference with Minnesota for half the year, potentially leading to confusion for people and businesses near the border.
For the Detroit Lakes area, where many residents commute to Fargo for work or visit regularly, the time difference could complicate everything from work shifts to family schedules. Businesses may have to clarify, “It’s 3 p.m. here in Detroit Lakes, but 2 p.m. across the border in Fargo.” Schools, sports leagues, and other organizations might face scheduling hurdles as well.
Minnesota lawmakers approved permanent DST in 2021, but federal law still requires Congressional approval before any state can officially make the change. Senator Erin Murphy said that while the DFL is still committed to permanent DST, the state has no clear timeline for when federal lawmakers might take action.
Local leaders and residents alike will be watching closely to see if North Dakota finalizes its time shift, as it could shape how both states manage their cross-border connections.
For now, Minnesotans can expect to keep changing their clocks twice a year.