After decades of complaints about changing the clocks twice a year, Congress is once again attempting to put the practice to an end.
The House of Representatives voted 308-117 on Tuesday to pass the Sunshine Protection Act, a bipartisan measure that would allow states to observe daylight saving time year-round if they choose. The legislation now heads to the Senate, where similar efforts have stalled in the past despite broad public support for ending the biannual time change.
If the bill ultimately reaches President Donald Trump’s desk, he is expected to sign it into law.
A Bipartisan Push
The legislation drew support from lawmakers in both parties, with proponents arguing that Americans have grown tired of the disruption caused by “springing forward” each March and “falling back” every November.
“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,” Rep. Kat Cammack (R-Fla.) said during debate.
Cammack, who recently became a mother, said the clock changes have been especially disruptive to her infant son’s sleep schedule.
“Let’s stop asking Americans to reset their clocks every March and November,” she said. “Let’s provide some certainty and consistency and a little more sunshine at the end of the day.”
Florida Republican Rep. Vern Buchanan sponsored the legislation, which also received backing from the White House.
An internal administration memo described the proposal as a “popular, common-sense reform.”
Americans Are Tired of Changing the Clocks
The twice-yearly time change has become increasingly unpopular with the public.
A recent AP-NORC poll found that only 12 percent of Americans support keeping the current system, while nearly half oppose it altogether. Among those favoring change, permanent daylight saving time enjoys greater support than permanent standard time.
Nearly 20 states have already passed legislation expressing their desire to remain on daylight saving time year-round if Congress authorizes the change. Hawaii and most of Arizona already opt out of daylight saving time entirely.
Supporters argue permanent daylight saving time would provide longer evenings, encourage outdoor recreation, boost tourism and retail activity, and eliminate the disruption many families experience every spring and fall.
“More evening sunshine means more time with family and more time to enjoy our local restaurants, shops, and everything Florida has to offer,” Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar (R-Fla.) said.
Not Everyone Agrees
Despite the overwhelming House vote, the proposal has its critics.
Opponents argue that making daylight saving time permanent would push winter sunrises well past 8 a.m.—and even after 9 a.m. in some northern states—forcing millions of children to travel to school in darkness.
Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon (D-Pa.), who favors permanent standard time instead, argued lawmakers should prioritize public health over convenience.
“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,” Scanlon said.
She also pointed to the nation’s brief experiment with year-round daylight saving time during the 1970s energy crisis. Congress adopted permanent daylight saving time in 1974 but repealed it within months after public backlash over dark winter mornings.
Agricultural groups have likewise expressed concerns that later sunrises could complicate farming operations and morning work schedules.
The Senate Faces a Familiar Debate
The legislation’s fate now rests with the Senate.
Lawmakers there approved a nearly identical measure unanimously in 2022, but it ultimately died in the House without reaching then-President Joe Biden’s desk.
This time, supporters hope the overwhelming bipartisan House vote—and President Trump’s backing—will give the proposal enough momentum to finally become law.
A Rare Issue That Crosses Party Lines
At a time when Congress remains deeply divided on most major issues, daylight saving time has emerged as one of the few topics eliciting bipartisan support.
The debate isn’t really over whether Americans are tired of changing their clocks—polls suggest they overwhelmingly are. Instead, lawmakers are divided over which clock should become permanent.
Some argue that later sunsets improve quality of life, encourage economic activity, and make evenings safer and more enjoyable. Others contend that morning sunlight better aligns with human biology and keeps children safer during winter commutes.
Either way, momentum appears to be building for ending the century-old tradition of resetting clocks twice a year. The only remaining question is whether the Senate is finally ready to finish what it started several years ago.
READ NEXT: Trump Opposes Daylight Saving Time, Calling It ‘Inconvenient’ And ‘Costly’
