House Passes Daylight Saving Bill as Trump Pushes Senate on August 01

The House passed the Sunshine Protection Act on July 14 with a 308-117 vote, sending legislation to make daylight saving time permanent to the Senate. President Trump is personally calling lawmakers to support the measure. Unless Congress acts, Americans will still turn clocks back one hour at 2 a.m. on November 1, 2026.

What the House bill does

The Sunshine Protection Act (H.R. 139) would make daylight saving time permanent nationwide, eliminating the twice-yearly clock change. States could still opt out and stay on standard time year-round, as Hawaii and most of Arizona do now. The bill has 32 bipartisan cosponsors in the House and passed with strong support from both parties.

Trump’s personal push for Senate passage

Trump posted on Truth Social in June that he would work hard to see the bill signed into law, calling the twice-yearly clock change a waste of money. He wrote: “Hundreds of Millions of Dollars are spent every year by people, Cities, and States, being forced to change their Clocks.” Trump is now personally calling politicians to urge Senate passage, saying “Hopefully the Senate’s going to approve that one.”

Senate faces uncertain path

The Senate version (S. 29) has 18 bipartisan cosponsors but remains stalled in the Commerce Committee since January 2025. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-South Dakota, has questioned whether the measure has enough votes to pass. The upper chamber previously passed a similar bill in 2022, but the House did not act on it at that time.

What permanent daylight saving would mean for states

Under permanent daylight saving time, winter sunrises would shift later. In Ohio cities like Columbus and Cincinnati, sunrise would occur near 8 or 9 a.m. in November and December, while sunsets would happen about an hour later than current standard time. Florida would see darker mornings in fall and winter, with some winter sunrises not occurring until after 8 a.m., but more light in the evenings. The total amount of daylight would not change, only when it occurs.

Final Thoughts

With the House bill passed and Trump pushing hard, Senate passage remains uncertain. Unless lawmakers act before November 1, Americans will still change their clocks this fall.

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