House Passes Bill for Year-Round Daylight Saving Time

Americans could stop resetting their clocks twice a year if a new federal law takes effect, yet the change remains far from certain after the House cleared the measure on a 308-117 vote. The bill, known as the Sunshine Protection Act, would lock the country on daylight saving time permanently and eliminate the shift back to standard time each fall.

The legislation advanced through the House on July 14, 2026, with support from both parties. Representative Vern Buchanan, a Florida Republican who introduced the measure in January 2025, argued that the biannual adjustment disrupts daily routines without clear benefit. President Trump has backed the effort, calling the clock changes a needless inconvenience and stating a preference for the extra evening daylight that permanent daylight saving time would provide.

The bill now moves to the Senate, where its path is unclear. Senator John Barrasso, the chamber’s second-ranking Republican, told reporters the upper body would review the House version but offered no commitment. At least one other Republican, Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas, has previously expressed reservations about the effects of later winter sunrises.

The United States last attempted year-round daylight saving time during the 1973-1974 oil crisis. Congress authorized the trial to conserve energy, but public support dropped sharply after complaints about dark winter mornings and safety concerns for children. Lawmakers repealed the policy after less than two years.

Under current federal rules set by the 1966 Uniform Time Act, most states observe daylight saving time from March to November. Hawaii, most of Arizona, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and several other territories remain on standard time year-round. Nineteen states have passed laws that would adopt permanent daylight saving time if Congress changes federal statute.

Advocates say the change would reduce seasonal depression, boost evening commerce, and end the twice-yearly disruption. Opponents, including some sleep researchers, contend that permanent daylight saving time would leave large parts of the country in darkness during winter mornings, potentially affecting school schedules and commuting safety. The Senate has not scheduled action on its companion measure, introduced by Senator Rick Scott of Florida.