This week, the House approved the Sunshine Protection Act. If the Senate passes it and President Trump signs it, states that want to could observe daylight saving time year-round, making those spring-ahead, fall-back days a thing of the past.
Currently, just Arizona and Hawaii do not participate in the clock change. In total, 20 states have passed laws that would make daylight saving time permanent for them, contingent on congressional approval.
An overwhelming number of Americans oppose the twice-yearly time changes. According to a December AP-NORC poll, only 12% of those surveyed supported the existing schedule, whereas close to 50% were against it. The other 40% held no particular view.
Get the market news that matters in a five-minute read with Market Briefs, our free daily newsletter
The poll further queried opinions on alternatives, revealing that 56% of respondents favored permanent daylight saving time, which provides evening light at the cost of darker mornings. Meanwhile, roughly 40% preferred making standard time permanent, resulting in brighter mornings but earlier sunsets.
Supporters of year-round daylight saving time claim it would end the twice-yearly clock shifts and stimulate tourism and recreation by providing extended evening daylight during winter. Opponents contend that permanent standard time, with its earlier dawns and dusks, matches human biological clocks more closely and avoids instances where sunrise occurs after 9 a.m. in winter.
Efforts to end the biannual time changes have gained traction. The House's 308-117 vote represents strong bipartisan support despite the operational hurdles airlines have flagged.
This is not the first time Congress has considered permanent DST. In 1974, the U.S. briefly adopted year-round DST in response to an energy crisis, but public backlash over dark winter mornings led to its repeal within a year. That historical precedent underscores the potential for unintended consequences, especially for industries like aviation that rely on precise time coordination. Given the strong public desire to end the clock changes, lawmakers are pushing ahead, but the 1974 failure serves as a cautionary tale about how quickly support can erode once the downsides become apparent.
While the House vote was strongly bipartisan, the Senate has yet to schedule a vote. The bill's fate may also depend on the alignment of neighboring countries, as Canada and Mexico have not indicated plans to change their timekeeping. Without international coordination, U.S. airlines could face confusion during peak travel seasons, especially for flights to Europe and Asia where time zone differences would shift unpredictably.
The trade group Airlines for America (A4A), which advocates for major U.S. airlines, issued a statement. The group added: "Airlines operate expansive interconnected domestic and global networks that are reliant on stability and predictability." These airlines operate extensive, interconnected networks both within the U.S. and globally that require stability and advance planning. Additionally, the trade group emphasized that a transition period accounting for international complexities would be necessary.
The legislation's path through the Senate remains unclear, but President Trump has indicated he would approve it if it arrives on his desk, with the White House encouraging lawmakers to back the measure.
Join Market Briefs, our free daily newsletter, for a quick daily rundown of the markets
