Florida Senate passes bill approving year-round Daylight Saving Time

FLORIDA — Florida is a step closer to living up to its nickname as "The Sunshine State."

A bill to let Florida remain on Daylight Saving Time year round is headed to Gov. Rick Scott's desk after the state Senate approved it 33-to-2 on Tuesday.

If Scott signs the "Sunshine Protection Act," Congress would need to amend existing federal law to allow the change.

While the rest of the Eastern United States would set their clocks back in the fall, Florida wouldn't, leaving it with more sunshine in the evenings during the winter. Northwest Florida is currently in the Central time zone.

Hawaii, most of Arizona, and a handful of United States territories — including American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands — do not observe Daylight Saving Time.