House Passes Daylight Saving Time Bill 308-117 on July 14

The House passed the Sunshine Protection Act on Tuesday with a 308-117 vote, moving closer to ending the twice-yearly clock changes that disrupt sleep and routines. The bill would let states keep daylight saving time year-round unless they opt out before enactment. President Trump backs the measure, but Senate passage remains uncertain as lawmakers from agricultural regions worry about dark winter mornings.

How the House voted and what comes next

The House voted 308-117 on Tuesday to pass the Sunshine Protection Act, sponsored by Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Fla. The bill would make daylight saving time permanent across the country from March through November unless a state exempts itself before the law takes effect. The measure now goes to the Senate, where prospects remain unclear due to opposition from both parties. President Trump has publicly pushed Congress to pass the bill, writing on Truth Social in May that it was time to stop the “ridiculous, twice yearly production” of changing clocks.

Who supports and opposes the change

Lawmakers from coastal and tourism-heavy states like Florida, Louisiana, and New Jersey backed permanent daylight saving time, citing more evening daylight for families and businesses. Rep. Kat Cammack, R-Fla., noted the clock changes disrupt infant sleep schedules and create “unnecessary frustration.” Opposition came largely from Midwest and agricultural states. Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., objected to fast-tracking the bill, warning that in parts of the country the sun would not rise until 9 a.m. or later during winter months, creating dark morning commutes for school buses and workers.

Why Americans have wanted this change for decades

Polls dating back to the 1940s show a majority of Americans prefer one consistent time year-round, though disagreement exists over which time to keep. The U.S. tried permanent daylight saving time in 1974 when Congress suspended the fall-back change. Public support dropped from 79% to 42% in just three months once enacted, forcing the experiment to end in 1975. Daylight saving time was first adopted during World War I to conserve energy but did not become nationwide until the 1960s. Today, every state except Hawaii and Arizona observes the twice-yearly change.

What the White House and supporters say about benefits

The White House called the Sunshine Protection Act a “popular, common-sense reform” in a memo sent to lawmakers Tuesday. Supporters argue permanent daylight saving time would boost economic activity, improve public safety, and give families more usable daylight in the evening for outdoor activities. Rep. Gus Bilirakis, R-Fla., emphasized that in Florida, where tourism anchors the economy, predictable daylight hours benefit workers, businesses, and visitors. Proponents also note the change would eliminate the disruption to sleep schedules and routines caused by resetting clocks twice yearly.

Final Thoughts

The House passed the Sunshine Protection Act with strong bipartisan support, but Senate approval is far from certain. With agricultural states and some senators citing concerns about dark winter mornings, the bill’s fate depends on whether those objections can be overcome before a final vote.

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