Members of the US House of Representatives voted to approve a bipartisan bill that would eliminate the twice-yearly clock change and keep daylight saving time in effect year-round across the country. The proposed legislation, known as the Sunshine Protection Act, would effectively abolish the practice of setting clocks back one hour each autumn — a routine that has been followed in most of the United States for decades.
Under current rules, Americans spring forward by one hour in the spring and fall back in the early November. If the House bill becomes law, that annual shift would no longer occur, and the later evening light associated with daylight saving time would remain constant throughout every month.
However, the legislation now faces a significant hurdle. While the House has given its approval, the Senate has yet to take up the measure, and there is no public schedule indicating when senators might hold hearings or a vote. Without Senate action, the bill cannot reach the president's desk and cannot become law.
Until Congress acts, the existing system remains fully in place. That means most Americans should expect to turn their clocks back by one hour on November 1, 2026, just as they have done in recent years. Only if both chambers of Congress pass the bill and the president signs it will the permanent daylight saving time framework take effect — likely not until at least 2027.
The push for permanent daylight saving time has gained momentum in recent years, with supporters arguing that fewer clock changes reduce confusion, improve workplace safety, and provide more evening daylight for commerce and recreation. Critics, including some medical researchers, have raised concerns about potential health effects from adjusting to a permanent later sunrise in winter months, particularly in northern states where mornings remain dark well after 7 a.m.
Several US states have previously passed symbolic resolutions supporting permanent daylight saving time, but those measures were always contingent on federal action. The latest House vote signals continued political interest, but the road ahead remains uncertain.
