The House passed a bill Tuesday that would make daylight saving time permanent.
Proponents, including President Donald Trump, say the switch would amount to more daylight during the times when Americans are most active. The act is in turn called the Sunshine Protection Act
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Trump called the House’s vote “great news for America.”
But critics say it’s not that simple, citing public safety and health issues.
So, if the change really means more sunlight, what could go wrong? And haven’t we tried this before? Here’s everything we know so far about a potential switch to permanent daylight saving time.
What is daylight saving time?
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.
The protocol provides the advantage of pushing back the night, allowing for long summer nights.
So what’s standard time?
Standard time is the time without daylight saving in effect.
We’re currently observing daylight saving (from March through November). Standard is what most of the country would revert to in November — “falling back” an hour — but not if the Sunshine Protection Act has its way.
Some lawmakers have also proposed a permanent standard time, which is favored by sleep researchers and medical professionals. But that’s not on the table right now.
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine has advocated for year-round standard time, saying moving the clocks forward presents “significant public health and safety risks” from sleep deprivation.
What states honor which time?
Most of the United States alternates between daylight saving and standard time. The exceptions are Hawaii and most of Arizona, which stay on standard time all year long.
What do supporters say about permanent daylight saving time?
The argument for daylight saving time harps on what could be accomplished with an extra hour-or-so of sunlight. Supporters say the pros include basics like more time for youth recreational sports in daylight and more time for summer grilling.
Businesses, from outdoor amusement parks and restaurants with patio seating to retail shops, say more sunlight could mean more time for spending money. Experts say a permanent switch could boost in retail and tourism spending.
What do critics say about permanent daylight saving time?
Detractors say permanent daylight saving time would lead to darker and potentially more hazardous winter mornings where children would be waiting for school buses and adults would be commuting to work in darkness.
“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,” said U.S. Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon (D., Pa.), who voted against the bill. Scanlon also advocated for a bill she introduced that would support permanent standard time, which has not gained traction.
U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern (D., Mass.) voted in favor of the bill, but he questioned whether it was the best way for Congress to be spending its time.
“For folks getting crushed by rent, groceries, utility bills, and healthcare costs, is this really the best the majority can do?” McGovern asked. “Is this really the most pressing issue before the American people at this moment?”
Agricultural advocates also say permanent daylight saving time would negatively impact their crops and livestock, resulting in delayed harvesting, behavioral disruptions, and product loss.
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How would permanent daylight saving time look in Philadelphia and across the Northeast?
Pretty dark in the mornings! Because of Philly’s position on the eastern edge of the Eastern time zone, permanent daylight saving time would mean about an hour of more sun before it sets in the evening.
But it would also mean winter sunrises rolling in until as late as around 8:30 a.m. This rings true for areas of New York and New Jersey, too.
Critics caution this would impact morning commutes, circadian rhythms, and general health.
Was the nation ever on year-round daylight saving time? How’d it go?
Yes. During World War II, the nation moved up the clocks year-round from 1942 to 1945, in what officially was designated “War Time.” The hour switch then became a local option again until 1966, when the Uniform Time Act divided the clock year into standard and daylight saving time.
Later, during the energy crisis of the 1970s, the United States went to year-round daylight saving time, but the experiment was wildly unpopular.
The National School Boards Association called for the experiment’s immediate end because school buses were picking up students in darkness.
The experiment was supposed to last two years — it was abandoned after 10 months.
Where do the House and Senate stand?
The House vote was 308-117.
The Senate’s stance is unclear with senators expressing mixed feelings so far.
A similar Senate version of the Sunshine Protection Act previously stalled because senators said they needed more time to review the legislation.
No Pennsylvania senators have commented publicly about the current legislation. In 2022, Democratic Sen. John Fetterman, then Pennsylvania’s lieutenant governor, said he supported a similar bipartisan bill pushing for permanent daylight saving time.
Sen. Dave McCormick, a Republican, has not voted on the issue previously.
Would permanent daylight saving time happen this year?
It’s a race against the clock. The House approved its legislation to make daylight saving time permanent, but the Senate would have to do the same before the act could get signed into law. If that doesn’t happen by this fall, Americans will still be expected to turn their clocks back to standard time.
As it stands, the current Sunshine Protection Act language doesn’t include a start date. According to Time and Date, if the act became law before the November switch, the United States would “lock the clock” where it is. But if it were signed into law during standard time, the nation would perform a final “spring forward” in March and then stay in daylight saving time.
When does daylight saving time end in 2026?
Daylight saving time will end when the clocks “fall back” on Sunday, Nov. 1, at 2 a.m. — returning to standard time. This happens on the first Sunday in November.
Staff writer Anthony R. Wood and The Associated Press contributed to this article.
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