House Passes Bill to Make Daylight Saving Time Permanent

The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill Tuesday that would make daylight saving time permanent nationwide. The White House has indicated its support for the "Sunshine Protection Act," but the legislation's progression through the Senate is unclear.

The vote, which passed 308-117, would establish the current daylight saving time schedule year-round. The bill allows states to opt out if their legislatures act before enactment. Proponents argue that permanent daylight saving time would provide more evening daylight, benefiting outdoor activities and local businesses, particularly in tourism-dependent regions.

However, critics have raised concerns about darker winter mornings. Representative Mary Gay Scanlon (D-Pa.) warned that millions of Americans would face darker commutes to school and work during winter months. Representative Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) supported the bill but questioned its timing, suggesting Congress should prioritize pressing economic issues like rent and utility costs.

According to a 2025 Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll, a majority of Americans would prefer permanent daylight saving time if forced to choose one option. 56% of adults favored more evening light, while approximately 40% preferred more morning light and standard time.

Congress has considered the implications of daylight saving time since its adoption as a wartime measure in 1942. The Senate passed a similar bill to make daylight saving time permanent four years ago, but it stalled in the House.