The House of Representatives on Tuesday overwhelmingly approved a bipartisan measure to make daylight saving time permanent, bringing the nation one step closer to ending the twice-a-year clock change that has long frustrated Americans. The Sunshine Protection Act passed with a vote of 308 to 117, reflecting growing momentum in Congress to lock in longer evening daylight year-round.
«For decades, we have accepted this ritual of springing forward and falling back, even though it disrupts routines, throws off our sleep and creates unnecessary frustration for families across the country,» said Rep. Kat Cammack, R-Fla., who detailed how the clock changes have disrupted her infant son's sleep schedule. «Let's stop asking Americans to reset their clocks every March and November,» she continued. «Let's provide some certainty and consistency and a little more sunshine at the end of the day.»
The legislation, authored by Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Fla., would allow states to voluntarily observe daylight saving time year-round. Nearly 20 states have already approved legislation to make daylight saving time permanent if Congress authorizes the practice, while Hawaii and most of Arizona do not currently observe daylight saving time at all.
The vote divided lawmakers along geographic lines rather than strictly partisan ones. Members from coastal areas, including Louisiana, Florida, and New Jersey, largely supported the measure, while those from the Midwest and agriculture-heavy states opposed it. Democrats were nearly evenly split, with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., voting against the bill. Just 22 Republicans voted in opposition, including Reps. Bryan Steil, R-Wis.; Rick Crawford, R-Ark.; Ryan Zinke, R-Mont.; and Harriet Hageman, R-Wyo.
President Donald Trump, who has long called for ending the clock changes, is expected to sign the bill if it reaches his desk. The White House urged lawmakers to support the Sunshine Protection Act in an internal memo sent to Hill offices Tuesday, calling it a «popular, common-sense reform.»
Proponents of the measure argue that permanent daylight saving time would end disruptions to children's routines, improve road safety, and boost tourism and outdoor recreation. «More evening sunshine means more time with family and more time to enjoy our local restaurants, shops, and everything Florida has to offer,» wrote Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar, R-Fla., on social media. «It's common sense. Let's get it done.»
Opponents, however, raise concerns about darker winter mornings and economic challenges for farmers. Permanent daylight saving time would delay winter sunrises until after 9 a.m. in some parts of the country, raising safety issues for morning commutes and schoolchildren. Critics also argue that permanent standard time — which provides more morning light — better aligns with human circadian rhythms.
«If we're going to make a permanent change that affects every American, we should follow the science and prioritize Americans' health, particularly that of the children,» said Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon, D-Pa., who favors permanent standard time, during debate Monday. Scanlon also pointed to the nation's brief experiment with year-round daylight saving time in 1974, which Congress reversed after widespread public backlash.
The measure now heads to the Senate, where its prospects remain uncertain amid skepticism from members of both parties. The Senate previously passed year-round daylight saving time legislation in 2022, but the measure failed to clear the House at that time.
Public opinion on the issue is clear, according to recent polling. An AP-NORC survey released in December found that just 12% of Americans favor the current daylight saving time system, with nearly half opposed. Another 40% of respondents had no opinion. The survey also found that more Americans support having daylight saving time year-round compared to standard time by a 14-point margin.
Nearly every state currently follows the practice of setting clocks forward one hour in March to preserve more evening daylight before «falling back» one hour in November. The semiannual clock change has remained widely unpopular with Americans, fueling the push for a permanent solution.
