House to Decide on Year-Round Daylight Saving Time

Congress Moves to Make Daylight Saving Time Permanent

Congress is taking steps to make daylight saving time a permanent fixture while allowing states the option to opt-out.

The proposed legislation, known as the Solar Protection Act, aims to eliminate the biannual clock changes. It’s expected to go for a full vote next week, following overwhelming support from the House Energy and Commerce Committee earlier this year.

The bill would mandate that states, which haven’t received exemptions, keep their clocks set to the observed time from March through November.

President Trump has voiced his support for the legislation, emphasizing the need to eliminate the hassle and costs associated with changing the clocks twice a year. He shared his thoughts on social media following the commission’s earlier vote.

A similar bill saw unanimous approval in the Senate in 2022 but did not advance in the House.

Currently, daylight saving time requires clocks to spring forward one hour on the second Sunday in March and fall back one hour on the first Sunday in November. This practice began in the 1960s and has been widely adopted across the U.S.

Notably, the U.S. experienced year-round daylight saving time during World War II, and Richard Nixon brought it back in 1974 as a response to the energy crisis. However, this change was eventually reversed due to significant public backlash, especially concerning school children facing dark, cold mornings.

Only Hawaii and most of Arizona do not participate in the clock changes. In 2018, California voters expressed interest in making daylight saving time permanent, but such a change can’t happen without Congressional approval.

Supporters of the bill argue that the twice-yearly changes lead to disruptions in sleep patterns, increased workplace accidents, and more car crashes. They also believe that extended daylight in the evenings could enhance economic activity during the winter months.

If the House passes the bill, it will move to the Senate, where it faces opposition from some senators, including Tom Cotton from Arkansas. In a recent speech, Cotton expressed concerns about the implications of permanent daylight saving time, such as late sunrises in winter, which could affect the well-being of many people, especially children heading to school.

He acknowledged that while there are industries that may benefit from the bill—like outdoor recreational facilities and southern golf courses—it’s a complicated issue.

To illustrate his point, he referenced the story of King Canute, who attempted to control the tides, suggesting that even the best intentions can fall short against natural forces.