Political consensus emerges on permanent daylight saving time shift
Political consensus builds for permanent daylight saving time despite concerns over dark winter mornings.
Event / Politics
Daylight Saving Time Legislation
U.S. House of Representatives passed the Sunshine Protection Act with bipartisan support, legislation that would make daylight saving time permanent nationwide. The bill allows states to opt out and has support from President Trump, with majority public backing.
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2026-08-15 to 2026-11-12 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 15 Jul, 00:31 UTC
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What happened
House passes Sunshine Protection Act to make daylight saving time permanent
The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Sunshine Protection Act on Tuesday with a vote of 308-117. The bill would make daylight saving time permanent year-round, eliminating the biannual clock changes. The bill is sponsored by Republicans Brett Guthrie and Gus Bilirakis. States could opt out if their legislatures act to do so before the bill's enactment. The bill now requires Senate passage before it can be signed into law.
Opponents warn permanent daylight saving time would create dark winter mornings
Critics of the bill argue that making daylight saving time permanent would result in darker winter mornings, creating safety hazards for children waiting for school buses and parents driving to work. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine warns that permanent daylight saving time would delay morning light exposure, making it harder for children and adolescents to wake, learn, and travel safely to school during dark winter mornings. Senator Tom Cotton has previously delivered floor speeches opposing permanent daylight saving time.
Senate previously passed daylight saving time bill that stalled in House
The Senate passed a bill four years ago (2022) to make daylight saving time permanent, but the legislation stalled in the House. Congress has shown long-standing interest in the potential benefits and costs of daylight saving time since it was first adopted as a wartime measure in 1942.
White House expresses support for permanent daylight saving time bill
The White House weighed in before the House vote, calling the Sunshine Protection Act a popular, common-sense reform. White House advisers recommended that the president sign the bill if it reaches his desk. President Trump posted support on Truth Social, stating the bill is important because hundreds of millions of dollars are spent annually on clock changes, and pledged to work hard to see it signed into law.
Poll shows majority of Americans prefer permanent daylight saving time
A 2025 poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found that if forced to choose between permanent daylight saving time or permanent standard time, 56% of American adults prefer permanent daylight saving time with more evening daylight and less morning daylight. About 40% prefer standard time with more morning light and less evening light.
House members introduce alternative legislation for permanent standard time
Representatives Pat Harrigan (R-NC) and Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA) introduced the Sunshine for Our Kids Act, which would make standard time the permanent default while allowing states to opt into daylight saving time. This legislation represents an alternative approach to the House-passed Sunshine Protection Act.
Poll shows Americans prefer permanent daylight saving time over standard time
A 2025 poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found that 56% of American adults prefer making daylight saving time permanent with more light in the evening, compared to 40% who prefer permanent standard time with more light in the morning. Additionally, a separate survey indicated 43% of Americans prefer permanent daylight saving time while 28% prefer permanent standard time.
Senate passed similar daylight saving time bill in 2022 but it stalled in the House
The Senate passed a bill by unanimous consent in 2022 to make daylight saving time permanent, but the legislation stalled in the House and did not become law. Senator Rick Scott has introduced companion legislation in the current Congress with 18 bipartisan co-sponsors.
House of Representatives passes Sunshine Protection Act to make daylight saving time permanent
The House of Representatives voted 308-117 on July 14 to pass the Sunshine Protection Act of 2025, legislation that would allow states to enact daylight saving time year-round. The bill would end the practice of changing clocks twice annually, with permanent daylight saving time becoming the national default. States could opt out by passing state legislation before the bill's enactment. The legislation has backing from President Donald Trump, who has called seasonal clock changes a "ridiculous, twice-yearly production."
Florida enacted permanent daylight saving time trigger law pending federal approval
Florida became the first state to pass permanent daylight saving time legislation in 2018, with a trigger law that will go into effect if the Sunshine Protection Act becomes federal law.
Current federal law prohibits permanent daylight saving time without congressional approval
Under current federal law, states can opt to stay on permanent standard time year-round, but cannot remain on permanent daylight saving time without congressional and presidential approval. Hawaii and most of Arizona have exercised the option to stay on standard time permanently.
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2 alternative perspectives
House advances permanent daylight saving time as states await decision
House passes bill to make daylight saving time permanent, but faces competing proposals and federal restrictions.