WASHINGTON — The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Sunshine Protection Act by a vote of 308–117. The legislation would make daylight saving time permanent nationwide, eliminating the biannual clock changes that have been in place for decades.

The bill, authored by Representative Vern Buchanan, now heads to the Senate for consideration. If enacted, the final clock change would occur in the fall of 2027, after which clocks would remain fixed year-round on daylight saving time.

The House Energy and Commerce Committee voted 48–1 in May to advance the measure, and the House Rules Committee approved the rule to bring it to the floor on a 6–4 vote on Monday. Lawmakers also rejected a request to consider an alternative proposal that would have made standard time permanent instead. All nine Indiana representatives voted in favor of the bill.

Buchanan, who introduced the current version of the Sunshine Protection Act in January 2025, has championed similar legislation regularly since 2018. He argued that Americans are tired of the biannual time change and that permanent daylight saving time would bring tangible benefits. "Americans across the country are tired of the biannual clock change, and the evidence is clear that permanent daylight saving time can improve public health, reduce traffic accidents, lower crime and encourage more outdoor activity," Buchanan said. He added that ending the practice is a "commonsense reform that will improve everyday life for millions of Americans" and that clock changes disrupt schedules "for no good reason."

Representative Frank Pallone, another supporter, said permanent daylight saving time would improve safety and boost New Jersey’s tourism industry. "There’s a lot of science on this, and really the question is, why do we still change our clocks?" Pallone asked. He noted that commuting and work habits have changed and that far fewer schoolchildren walk to school today than in the past. "It's time to finally end the process of springing forward and falling back," he said.

Representative Gus Bilirakis of Florida emphasized the economic and lifestyle advantages for his state, where tourism is central to the economy. "In my home state of Florida, where tourism is a cornerstone of our economy, having more predictable daylight hours is a practical improvement that benefits workers, businesses and visitors alike," he said. Bilirakis also stated that changing the clock twice a year creates unnecessary disruption and that the reform would give families more evening daylight to spend outdoors and support local businesses. "Americans are ready to 'ditch the switch'," he added.

Opponents of the bill raised concerns about health, safety, and regional inequities. Senator Tom Cotton, who previously blocked a fast-tracked version of the bill in the Senate via unanimous consent in October of the prior year, warned that permanent daylight saving time would produce "absurdly late" winter sunrises. He said the change would force children to "walk to school in the pitch black" in many parts of the country and could lead to overlooked negative consequences, including dangerous dark morning commutes.

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine, the American Medical Association, and the National Sleep Foundation have all called for year-round standard time instead. According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, some parts of Montana, North Dakota, and Michigan would not see sunrise until after 9:30 a.m. during winter months under permanent daylight saving time.

In Detroit, the sun would rise around 9 a.m. for part of the winter; in New York, the latest sunrise would be 8:20 a.m.; in Oklahoma, sunrise would be around 8:30 a.m.; and in California, the sun would not rise until about 8:00 a.m. in December and January.

Representative Nanette Diaz Barragán said she plans to vote against the bill because "medical experts have warned that permanent daylight saving time is bad for our health." She supports an alternative measure, the Sunshine for Our Kids Act (HR 9638), which seeks to make standard time permanent and has been endorsed by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.

Public opinion remains divided but leans toward ending the clock changes. A 2025 AP-NORC poll found that changing the clock twice a year is unpopular, with 56% of adults preferring permanent daylight saving time and about 4 in 10 favoring standard time. Other surveys show similar splits, with one finding 43% support for permanent daylight saving time and 28% for permanent standard time.

Nineteen states have already enacted legislation allowing year-round daylight saving time contingent on federal approval, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Arizona, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands currently do not observe daylight saving time at all.

Airlines for America has raised concerns that the bill would have considerable implications for the aviation industry. The Senate version of the Sunshine Protection Act is sponsored by Senator Alex Padilla, who said, "More daylight after work means more business and more active, safer California communities." President Donald Trump, writing on Truth Social on May 21, stated he was "going to work very hard to see The Sunshine Protection Act signed into Law." In a separate post, he called the clock change a "ridiculous, twice yearly production" and suggested its passage would be "a very nice WIN for the Republican Party." Representative Scott DesJarlais marked the House’s approval by playing The Beatles’ "Here Comes the Sun" on his phone as he read the final tally.

The debate over permanent daylight saving time reflects broader questions about health, safety, commerce, and regional fairness. While proponents cite benefits like reduced crime and increased evening activity, critics—particularly medical experts—warn that darker winter mornings could harm children’s health and safety. The issue has a long history: daylight saving time was first adopted nationally in 1918, used during both World Wars, and standardized under the Uniform Time Act of 1966.

A 1970s experiment under President Richard Nixon to implement year-round daylight saving time was repealed in less than a year, partly due to public backlash over dark winter mornings. The current bill represents the latest effort to end the biannual time shift, following a 2022 Senate vote that failed to gain traction in the House.