US House passes Sunshine Protection Act to make daylight saving permanent

The United States House of Representatives voted 308-117 on July 14, 2026, to pass the Sunshine Protection Act, a measure that would end the practice of changing clocks twice a year. The legislation, H.R. 139, seeks to establish daylight saving time as the permanent, year-round standard in the United States.

Introduced by Representative Vern Buchanan of Florida, the bill reflects a years-long effort to standardize time. Buchanan described the move as a long-overdue reform, stating, "Today, the House took an important step toward ending the outdated practice of changing our clocks twice a year by passing my bipartisan Sunshine Protection Act. This commonsense legislation reflects what Americans have been saying for years: it’s time to lock the clock and make daylight saving time permanent. Permanent daylight saving time will improve public safety, promote healthier and more active lifestyles and give families more daylight to enjoy after work and school. I’m grateful to my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for supporting this bipartisan effort, and I urge the Senate to send this long-overdue reform to the president’s desk."

The path to the floor included a procedural hurdle cleared on July 14, 2026, when House Resolution 1423, introduced by Representative Virginia Foxx of North Carolina, passed by a vote of 217-210. This resolution authorized one hour of debate and one motion to consider the bill.

President Donald Trump has expressed public support for the legislation. In a social media post, he characterized the clock change as a "ridiculous, twice yearly production" and noted that ending it would be a "very nice WIN for the Republican Party." He has pledged to work toward signing the bill into law should it clear the Senate.

The proposal now moves to the Senate, where its future remains uncertain. A related version of the act, S. 29, was filed by Senator Rick Scott of Florida in January 2025. While the Senate unanimously passed a version of the Sunshine Protection Act in 2022, that effort failed when the House did not take it up for a vote. Proponents, including Senator Patty Murray, have urged the Senate leadership to take up the bill quickly, with Murray stating that Americans are "well past ready" to end the twice-yearly clock change.

If enacted, the bill would eliminate the biannual clock change. Jurisdictions currently exempt from daylight saving time—such as Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and most of Arizona—would remain on standard time, while most other states would shift to daylight saving time permanently. This change would shift sunlight hours, resulting in later sunsets during the winter months but also later sunrises. In cities such as Seattle, Cleveland, and Atlanta, winter sunrises could occur after 8 a.m.

The debate over permanent time standards remains divided. Supporters emphasize the benefit of extended evening light for outdoor activity. However, some members of the medical and scientific communities, such as Erik Herzog, a professor of biology and neuroscience at Washington University in St. Louis, argue that permanent standard time is better aligned with human circadian rhythms. Representative Nanette Barragán has raised concerns regarding potential sleep pattern disruptions, while other lawmakers, including Senator Mike Rounds, worry about the safety implications for children traveling to school in the dark during winter months. An alternative proposal, the Sunshine for Our Kids Act of 2026, was introduced to advocate for permanent standard time rather than permanent daylight saving time.

Should the Sunshine Protection Act fail to reach the President's desk, the current system of moving clocks back one hour is scheduled to take effect at 2 a.m. On November 1, 2026.