A major change could be hitting Texas this year and a major piece of the equation could be in play this week. The frustration of knowing when to set your clocks forward and when to set them back for daylight saving time could soon be a thing of the past, depending on how things play out in Congress this week.
The Sunshine Protection Act is being prepared for debate and a potential vote in the U.S. House of Representatives after clearing the House Rules Committee with a 6-4 vote on Monday, July 13. If passed by the House and Senate, the Sunshine Protection Act would give states the right to make daylight saving time a permanent fixture without having to adjust clocks twice a year. Consequently, the act would also give states the option to opt out and therefore stick with the common daylight saving time schedule.
The act has received bipartisan support in Congress and the backing of President Donald Trump, according to Fox News. It’s not clear when or if the House will vote on the act, but it is listed on the bills to be considered page for the week of July 13.
This isn’t the first time politicians have debated changes to daylight saving time. The Senate voted unanimously to make it permanent in March 2022, but it died in the House due to opposition, according to NBC. Meanwhile, the Sunshine Protection Act received a boost in May when the House Energy and Commerce Committee voted 48-1 in its favor, setting up the current House vote.
For Texans, daylight saving time officially began at 2 a.m. March 8 and is expected to conclude at 2 a.m. November 1. If the act is passed into law, this would be the last time Texans have to adjust their clocks.