WASHINGTON, D.C. — The House of Representatives passed the Sunshine Protection Act on July 14 with a 308-117 vote. The Sunshine Protection Act would make daylight saving time permanent across most of the United States.

The bill would eliminate the twice-yearly clock changes that currently occur in the spring and fall. The legislation has been sent to the Senate for consideration. The bill requires Senate passage and President Donald Trump's signature to become law.

President Donald Trump stated in May on Truth Social that he would work to see the Sunshine Protection Act signed into law. He described the twice-a-year clock changes as a “ridiculous” process. In June 2026, Trump directly contacted Senator John Kennedy to advocate for the measure, citing political pressure to finalize it before the election cycle.

Senator Rick Scott is pushing for the bill's passage in the upper chamber. “I’m optimistic that it’s going to pass,” Scott said. Senate Majority Leader John Thune stated it remains to be seen if the bill can get the necessary 60 votes to break a filibuster.

Senator Tom Cotton opposes permanent daylight saving time due to concerns about “dangerous, dark morning commutes” and late winter sunrises. Cotton has vowed to block efforts to approve the bill through unanimous consent. In 2025, a bipartisan group of senators sought unanimous consent to pass a year-round daylight saving time bill, but was thwarted by Cotton.

Senator Steve Daines stated he does not think the bill will pass on the Senate floor. Daines noted that sunrise in Western Montana would not occur until 9:30 a.m. in winter under permanent daylight saving time. Senator Jim Banks has expressed concerns about children going to school bus stops in the dark. Senator Jeanne Shaheen expressed concerns about children going to school in the dark.

Rabbi A.D. Motzen, national director of government affairs for Agudath Israel of America, stated that permanent daylight saving time would push sunrise back an hour, delaying morning prayers and complicating efforts to get to work or school on time. This religious and logistical concern mirrors the safety arguments raised by several senators regarding early morning darkness.

Senator John Kennedy said there is significant opposition in the Senate. “It’s going to be a dog fight,” Kennedy said. Senator Chuck Grassley stated he is undecided on the bill.

“I’m irritated every time I change my clock,” Grassley said. Senator Jeanne Shaheen said, “I feel it every time we change the clocks.”

Brian Nottingham, vice president of TPMA, stated that changing hours twice a year leads to losses in productivity. A study by consulting firm Chmura estimates the annual clock switch costs the U.S. economy about $672 million. These economic arguments support the push to end the biannual adjustments.

An AP-NORC poll conducted in October 2025 found 47% of respondents oppose the current system of changing clocks twice a year. The poll found 12% of Americans favor the current system. Additionally, 56% of respondents favored keeping clocks sprung forward over permanent standard time.

The Sunshine Protection Act of 2023 was sponsored by Sen. Marco Rubio [R-FL]. Its latest action was being read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. The current legislation builds on these earlier legislative efforts.

The U.S. enacted year-round daylight saving time in 1974 to reduce energy use. Congress repealed the 1974 year-round daylight saving time measure later that year. The U.S. used year-round daylight saving time during World War Two.

The Senate unanimously approved legislation for permanent standard time in 2022. The 2022 Senate daylight saving time bill did not receive a floor vote in the House.

Daylight saving time in the United States began on March 8, 2026. Daylight saving time in the United States is currently scheduled to end on November 1, 2026. The passage of the House bill sets the stage for a potential change to this schedule if the Senate acts.