The US House of Representatives passed the Sunshine Protection Act on July 14, 2026, with a 308-117 vote to make daylight saving time permanent across most of the country [1, 2, 3]. The bill aims to end the twice-yearly clock changes and keep the US on daylight saving time year-round, providing more daylight in the evening [1, 2, 4]. Republican Representative Vern Buchanan of Florida sponsored the bill, saying permanent daylight saving time "will improve public safety, promote healthier and more active lifestyles and give families more daylight to enjoy after work and school" [5].
The bill allows states to exempt themselves by passing legislation to remain on permanent standard time, as Hawaii and most of Arizona currently do not observe daylight saving time [1, 2, 4]. The proposal has split support geographically, with coastal and southern states generally in favor, while some Midwestern and agricultural states oppose it [1, 6]. A 2025 AP-NORC poll found 56% of Americans supported permanent daylight saving time, while 42% preferred permanent standard time and only 12% favored the current clock-changing system [4, 7].
President Donald Trump publicly backed the bill, tweeting, "We are going with the far more popular alternative, Saving Daylight, which gives you a longer, brighter Day – And who can be against that – This is an easy one!" He added, "I will work very hard to ensure the Sunshine Protection Act is signed into law" [1, 3]. House leaders have cited bipartisan committee votes including a 48-1 approval in the House Energy and Commerce Committee in May 2026 [1].
Opponents, including Republican Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas, argue permanent daylight saving time will cause very late winter sunrises, creating hazards for school children and commuters traveling in darkness. Cotton said, "The darkness of permanent savings time would be especially harmful for school children and working Americans" [8]. Public health experts, including the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, recommend permanent standard time for better alignment with human circadian rhythms and health benefits [1, 8]. Sleep specialist Phyllis Zee warned daylight saving time exposure to less morning light and more evening light "can throw off your circadian rhythm" [8].
The bill now moves to the Senate, where its fate is uncertain due to opposition from some senators including Cotton [3, 9, 4]. Permanent daylight saving time would shift winter sunrise times later by about an hour; in Washington DC, December sunrise would change from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m., with sunset extending from 4:45 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. [4, 7]. The US briefly tried permanent daylight saving time during the 1970s energy crisis but canceled it amid public backlash over dark winter mornings [4, 7].
Rep. Gus Bilirakis said, "Americans were ready to 'ditch the switch' ... having more predictable daylight hours is a practical improvement that benefits workers, businesses and visitors alike" [2]. Rep. Kat Cammack added, "Let's stop asking Americans to reset their clocks every March and November. Let's provide some certainty and consistency, and a little more sunshine at the end of the day" [6]. The next step is Senate consideration, where debate and a vote will determine the bill’s final outcome.
