US House passes bill to make daylight saving time permanent

Washington,UPDATED: Jul 15, 2026 14:12 IST

The US House of Representatives on Tuesday passed a bill to make daylight saving time permanent, in a move that would end the practice of changing clocks twice a year in most parts of the country. The measure, backed by the White House, was approved by 308 votes to 117.

If enacted, the change would mean more daylight in the evening throughout the year. The bill still needs to clear the Senate before it can be signed into law, and it is not yet clear whether the chamber will take it up. States would be allowed to opt out if their legislatures act before the bill takes effect.

Daylight saving time is the period between spring and fall when clocks in most parts of the United States are set one hour ahead of standard time. Supporters said the current system causes unnecessary disruption. Republican Representative Gus Bilirakis of Florida said Americans are ready to "ditch the switch" and argued that ending the clock changes would give families more daylight in the evening to spend outdoors and support local businesses. "In my home state of Florida where tourism is a cornerstone of our economy, having more predictable daylight hours is a practical improvement that benefits workers, businesses and visitors alike," Bilirakis said.

Opponents said permanent daylight saving time would lead to darker winter mornings and create safety concerns for children going to school and adults travelling to work. Democratic Representative Mary Gay Scanlon of Pennsylvania said, "Millions of Americans will wake up during the winter months in complete darkness with the sun not rising until long after people get up and travel to school or work or have to go about their days." Democratic Representative Jim McGovern of Massachusetts said he supported the bill but questioned whether Congress should be prioritising it. "For folks getting crushed by rent, groceries, utility bills and healthcare costs, is this really the best the majority can do?" McGovern said. "Is this really the most pressing issue before the American people at this moment?"

A 2025 poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found that, if forced to choose, most Americans would prefer to keep the extra hour of daylight in the evening. More than half of adults, 56 per cent, favoured permanent daylight saving time, while about four in 10 preferred standard time, which gives more light in the morning and less in the evening. Ahead of the vote, the White House called the "Sunshine Protection Act" a "popular, common-sense reform" and said advisers would recommend that the president sign the bill if it reaches his desk. Congress has debated the benefits and costs of daylight saving time since it was first introduced as a wartime measure in 1942. The Senate passed a similar bill four years ago, but it did not move forward in the House.

The House vote has once again pushed the debate over daylight saving time to the fore, with supporters arguing for longer evenings and critics warning of darker winter mornings. For now, the proposal remains short of becoming law, with Senate approval still required.

With PTI Inputs

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