The U.S. House of Representatives is scheduled to vote next week on the Sunshine Protection Act, a bill that would eliminate the twice-yearly clock change and make daylight saving time permanent nationwide.

The vote follows a 48-1 committee approval of the bill in May.

What the bill would do

Daylight saving time currently runs from March to November, when Americans set their clocks one hour ahead of standard time. Under the proposed law, that shifted time would become the year-round standard rather than switching back each fall.

Hawaii and most of Arizona, which already observe standard time year-round and don’t observe seasonal time changes, would be exempt. Other states would have the option to opt out of the permanent shift.

Why supporters back it

Advocates argue that switching clocks twice a year disrupts sleep and contributes to increased workplace injuries and car accidents. They also point to the benefit of more evening daylight, an appealing prospect in Florida and other Sunbelt states.

Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL) called ending the clock change a commonsense reform that would improve daily life for millions of Americans. Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ) said permanent daylight saving time would be better for safety and would benefit New Jersey’s tourism industry. President Donald Trump has also voiced support, criticizing the cost and inconvenience of the twice-yearly time change.

Why opponents oppose it

Critics, including Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR), warn that permanent daylight saving time would produce extremely late winter sunrises, forcing children in much of the country to go to school in the dark.

What happens next

If the bill clears the House, it would still need Senate approval to become law. The Senate passed a similar measure in 2022, but it stalled in the House and never reached President Biden’s desk.

Background

Daylight saving time dates back to 1918, introduced during World War I to conserve fuel, and was revived during World War II for the same reason. After being repealed following each war, some states and cities kept observing it while others didn’t, creating a patchwork of local time differences. By 1966, the resulting confusion led Congress to pass the Uniform Time Act, which standardized daylight saving time nationwide, though the law has been adjusted several times since.

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