Senate Stalls on Bill to Make Daylight Saving Time Permanent
The House passed the Sunshine Protection Act in July with bipartisan support, which would keep Daylight Saving Time year-round nationwide and allow states to opt out. Senate Majority Leader John Thune said there is no consensus among senators on advancing the measure. Polling shows most Americans dislike the biannual clock changes, though they are divided on whether to adopt permanent Daylight Saving Time or Standard Time.
The House approved the Sunshine Protection Act in July with support from both parties. It would extend Daylight Saving Time across the country all year and let states choose not to follow it. Under current federal rules, states may stay on Standard Time permanently, as Hawaii and most of Arizona do, but they cannot adopt year-round Daylight Saving Time.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune said this week that senators have not reached agreement on moving the bill. President Donald Trump has pushed Congress to act. Polling last year found more Americans opposed the twice-yearly clock changes than supported them, while a majority favored permanent Daylight Saving Time over permanent Standard Time.
If the bill advances, millions of Americans could experience later winter sunrises and sunsets, which may affect sleep schedules, morning commutes, school routines, and evening recreation. Businesses and states that opt out might face a patchwork of time practices. Because the Senate has not found consensus, the current twice-yearly clock changes may continue for now, leaving households and workplaces to adjust as they have before.