The House of Representatives of the United States approved this Tuesday the Sunshine Protection Act, legislation that would put an end to the clock changes twice a year and establish daylight saving time as the permanent standard across the country.
The bill was supported with 308 votes in favor and 117 against, in a bipartisan vote that now moves the decision to the Senate.
A project driven from Florida
The initiative was introduced in January 2025 by Representative Vern Buchanan (Republican from Florida), with the support of Representative Gus Bilirakis (FL-12), chair of the Subcommittee on Commerce and one of its main advocates.
Bilirakis summarized the feelings of his constituents: “Floridians are tired of the outdated and unnecessary practice of changing the clocks twice a year.”
The Energy and Commerce Committee, chaired by Representative Brett Guthrie (KY-02), had approved the bill on May 21 with a resounding vote of 48 to one before it reached the floor.
Trump, a declared ally
The president Donald Trump has been one of the most visible advocates of this legislation, and he promised in May to work for its enactment.
"It’s time for people to stop worrying about the 'clock', not to mention all the work and money spent on this ridiculous procedure that occurs twice a year. It will also be a great VICTORY for the Republican Party. Take advantage of it!" he wrote on Truth Social almost two months ago.
The president also pointed out that the clock changes cost citizens, cities, and states "hundreds of millions of dollars" each year, and defended permanent daylight saving time as "the most popular alternative" because "it gives you a longer and brighter day."
What does the law establish?
If approved in the Senate and enacted, the legislation would establish the current schedule that runs from March to November as a permanent standard, eliminating the biannual adjustments.
States with prior exemptions could choose to maintain standard time year-round.
Currently, Arizona, Hawaii, and territories such as Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands do not observe daylight saving time.
Additionally, 19 states have passed laws that would allow them to adopt permanent daylight saving time as soon as federal Congress authorizes it, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
The obstacle in the Senate
The path in the upper chamber will not be easy. The main obstacle is Republican Senator Tom Cotton (Arkansas), who in October 2025 blocked a fast-track approval attempt by unanimous consent.
Cotton argues that permanent daylight saving time would have negative consequences in winter: in cities like Grand Rapids, Michigan, the sun wouldn't rise until 9:15 AM, and in Williston, North Dakota, until 9:45 AM, forcing children and workers to travel in the dark.
This is not the first time the proposal has progressed this far. In March 2022, the Senate passed a previous version of the same bill by unanimous consent, but the House never brought it to a vote.
A divided public opinion
Although changing the clock twice a year is widely unpopular - according to a 2025 AP-NORC survey - preferences regarding which alternative to adopt are far from unanimous.
A Gallup survey from the same year revealed that 48% of those who want to eliminate the change prefer permanent standard time, compared to only 24% who favor a fixed daylight saving time.
The closest historical precedent is not encouraging either: in 1974, President Richard Nixon enacted a permanent daylight saving time law during the energy crisis, but it was repealed less than a year later due to the unpopularity of dark winter mornings.
The project now moves to the Senate, where its future will depend on whether Republican leaders can overcome Cotton's opposition and gather the necessary votes to proceed without unanimous consent.
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