The bill, which now heads to the Senate, would make the later sunset hours of spring and summer a permanent fixture, eliminating the standard time observed during the darker winter months.
The legislation, formally titled the Sunshine Protection Act, was introduced by Representative Janice Harkins of Oregon, who argued that the twice yearly time shifts are an outdated practice that disrupts sleep schedules and harms the economy. Supporters of the bill pointed to studies showing an increase in traffic accidents and workplace injuries in the days immediately following the spring forward transition. The measure would require the nation to remain on daylight saving time, meaning that Americans would no longer set their clocks back in November.
Opposition to the bill came from a bipartisan group of lawmakers who raised concerns about the impact on children and early morning workers. Representative Marcus Webb of Maine, a Republican, argued that making daylight saving time permanent would force many students in northern states to travel to school in darkness for much of the academic year. Other critics cited potential disruptions to agricultural schedules and the aviation industry, which relies on precise time coordination across time zones.
A Familiar Debate Returns to Congress
The vote marks the most significant congressional action on time policy in decades, though similar proposals have stalled in previous sessions. The Senate passed a nearly identical version of the bill last year, but the House did not take it up before the end of the term. Proponents of the change have grown increasingly vocal in recent years, citing broad public support for ending the clock changes. A 2023 poll from the Pew Research Center found that 63 percent of Americans favor eliminating the biannual time switch.
The debate has also drawn attention from health experts, who are divided on the merits of permanent daylight saving time versus permanent standard time. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine has publicly endorsed permanent standard time, arguing that it better aligns with the body's natural circadian rhythms. However, retail and tourism industries have lobbied heavily for daylight saving time, noting that longer evening daylight encourages consumer spending and outdoor recreation.
The bill now faces an uncertain path in the Senate, where Majority Leader Thomas Brennan has indicated he will bring the measure to the floor for a vote before the end of the month. If passed, the legislation would require President Michael Torres to sign it into law. The White House has not issued a formal statement on the bill, though aides have indicated that the president is open to signing legislation that has broad bipartisan support.
Should the measure become law, the Department of Transportation would oversee the transition, which is expected to take effect in November of next year. That timeline would allow federal agencies to update scheduling systems and coordinate with international partners. The change would not affect Hawaii and most of Arizona, which do not observe daylight saving time, nor would it alter the time zones of U.S. territories such as Puerto Rico and Guam.
