Congress is taking another crack at making daylight saving time permanent across the US.
The Sunshine Protection Act, which advocates for a later sunset and darker morning, was passed by the House on Tuesday and now heads to the Senate for a vote.
“Americans across the country are tired of the biannual clock change, and the evidence is clear that permanent daylight saving time can improve public health, reduce traffic accidents, lower crime and encourage more outdoor activity,” the bill’s co-sponsor, Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-Fla.), said ahead of the House vote.
In California, the bill is co-sponsored by Reps. Jay Obernolte (R-Big Bear Lake), Ken Calvert (R-Corona) and Young Kim (R-Anaheim Hills).
The Sunshine Protection Act has generated both support and concerns from lawmakers across the country. Fran – stock.adobe.com
If the proposal passes, it would shift the country’s official clocks forward by one hour permanently. Places like Arizona and Hawaii, which already do not change their clocks, would be allowed to choose whether they want to stay exactly as they are or join the rest of the country in the shift.
The Senate version of the bill, SB 29, is sponsored by Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.). In 2025, he had said that changing clocks twice a year “is an unnecessary, decades-old practice that’s more of an annoyance to families than benefit to them.”
Rep. Nanette Diaz Barragán (D-San Pedro) voiced strong concerns against the bill last year, warning it could undermine public health and safety.
If the bill goes through, Californians will be able to enjoy the sun until late in the evening. junaid – stock.adobe.com
She said that “doctors, neurologists, sleep scientists, and major medical organizations have warned Congress that permanent daylight saving time would hurt public health and public safety,” and highlighted that the American Medical Association favors permanent standard time because it “better aligns with the human body’s natural circadian rhythm.”
Recalling a failed U.S. experiment with permanent daylight saving time in 1974, Barragán had said that “children were waiting for school buses in pitch black streets” and that “in Florida alone, eight children were killed in traffic accidents in the weeks after the change.”
Back in 2018, nearly 60% of California voters gave a thumbs up to Proposition 7, allowing the state legislature the power to switch to permanent daylight saving time but only if the federal government changed its laws first to allow it.
Places like Arizona and Hawaii don’t change their clocks twice a year. Spotmatik – stock.adobe.com
If the federal barrier is removed, the California State Legislature would still need to officially approve the change by a two-thirds majority vote. If it goes through, Californians would enjoy much sunnier winter afternoons but with the sun not rising until around 8:00 am during December and January.
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