The U.S. Congress could make daylight saving time permanent, as the House of Representatives passed the “Sunshine Protection Act” on July 14. The bill is currently awaiting consideration in the Senate. If the Senate passes it, Trump has stated that he would sign it into law.
The Hill reports that under the “Sunshine Protection Act,” states that do not have an exemption would be required to observe daylight saving time year-round. This would mean not setting our clocks back one hour in November of the year the law takes effect, which is scheduled for 2027 if it is passed by the Senate and signed by the president this year.
To date, efforts to adopt permanent daylight saving time have failed on several occasions. Yet most Americans support eliminating the twice-yearly time change. Polls show that only about 12% of the population prefers the current system of changing the clocks. And Floridians strongly support the “Sunshine Protection Act.” In 2018, the Florida Legislature passed its own bipartisan bill by an overwhelming majority to maintain daylight saving time year-round. However, this state-level change cannot take effect until Congress amends federal law.
Supporters of this measure within the state point out that permanent daylight saving time offers health benefits, simplifies daily routines, boosts local economies, and provides more evening daylight for outdoor activities. It would also eliminate the twice-yearly time changes, which are associated with short-term spikes in heart attacks, strokes, and traffic accidents.
Among the drawbacks, health organizations argue that permanent standard time is biologically better suited to our internal clocks. Permanent daylight saving time delays sunrise in the winter. Furthermore, darker winter mornings create hazardous conditions for people commuting to work early and for children walking to school.
Permanent daylight saving time or not? Many of you responded to the question on our social media platforms, and we are very grateful to you. The vast majority of respondents favor permanent daylight saving time. The reasons cited include greater simplicity, longer evenings, physical and mental health benefits, and the fact that it’s better for workers. The 5% of people opposed to permanent daylight saving time cited winter mornings that are too long in the dark and the danger to children of being in the dark at bus stops on their way to school in the morning. We’ll have to wait and see what the U.S. Senate decides!
N.B. TRANSLATED BY DEEPL