Let there be light!
A bill backed by President Trump to establish permanent daylight saving time—pushing back winter sunsets—is picking up steam and attracting support from both sides of the aisle.
The U.S. House of Representatives approved the Sunshine Protection Act on Tuesday evening, which could mean the end of the biannual clock-changing routine.
Just the day before, the bill made significant progress when the House Rules Committee approved it with a 6-4 vote.
In support of the legislation, President Trump posted on Truth Social, indicating it would be a “very nice victory for the Republican Party” and urged others to “embrace it!”
What is the Sunshine Protection Act?
The versions of the bill in both the House and Senate aim to make daylight saving time permanent, effectively removing the time shift that currently occurs twice a year, which applies to all states except for Hawaii and some areas in Arizona.
If the proposal goes through, Americans would move their clocks forward in March and not revert to standard time in November.
Introduced by Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-Fla.), this measure was originally part of a larger transportation bill that had already cleared the House Energy and Commerce Committee back in May.
Proponents believe that eliminating the biannual clock change would promote outdoor activities, boost tourism and economic growth, and help alleviate issues related to sleep disruption and seasonal depression.
On the other hand, some critics argue that farmers would be significantly affected by later sunrises.
Last October, there was an attempt in the Senate to fast-track this legislation, but it ultimately fell short.
If the House approves the bill on Tuesday, it will proceed to the Senate before reaching President Trump’s desk for his approval.
How will the new bill affect New York?
If permanent daylight saving time is adopted, sunrise and sunset times will shift later, while summer timing would remain unchanged.
However, winter sunrise and sunset can vary significantly.
In New York, the latest sunrise following the end of daylight saving time is at 7:20 a.m., with the earliest sunset at 4:28 p.m.
If permanent daylight saving time becomes law, that latest sunrise would move to 8:20 a.m. and the earliest sunset would shift to 5:28 p.m.
This change would mean darker early mornings but longer daylight in the evenings for those leaving work.
Nineteen states have already set laws to adopt permanent daylight saving time if Congress passes the Sunshine Protection Act. These states include Alabama, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Louisiana, Maine, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.
In New York, there is also Senate Bill 3380, which aims to adopt permanent daylight saving time year-round, pending federal approval. This bill was introduced in January 2025 and remains with the Senate Judiciary Committee.
