3 versions

CosmeticWhat changed in REFERRED IN SENATEcompared with ENGROSSED IN HOUSE (Jul 14, 2026)

Technical corrections only. The changes between v2 and v3 are purely administrative, reflecting the bill's procedural journey from the House of Representatives to the Senate, including the addition of the Senate Clerk's name. No substantive policy changes were made to the legislative text.

H.R. 139119th CongressIntroduced Jan 3, 2025

Sunshine Protection Act of 2025

Passed HouseScience, Technology, CommunicationsMajor

View bill text

Sponsor: Rep. Buchanan, Vern [R-FL-16]
Committees: Energy and Commerce Committee (primary)
Last action: Jul 15, 2026

Bottom line

This bill seeks to eliminate the twice-yearly clock change by establishing Daylight Saving Time as the year-round standard for most of the United States, while preserving opt-out options for certain states.

What it actually does

This bill makes Daylight Saving Time permanent across the United States by repealing the federal law that establishes a temporary period for Daylight Saving Time and by permanently advancing the standard time for most time zones by one hour. It also includes a provision allowing states or areas that previously opted out of Daylight Saving Time to choose between adhering to the new permanent standard or maintaining their previous time.

Proponents argue

Proponents argue that permanent Daylight Saving Time would improve public health by reducing seasonal depression, decrease energy consumption, boost economic activity by providing more daylight in the evenings, and enhance public safety by reducing evening accidents. They also highlight the convenience of ending the disruptive biannual clock changes.

Opponents contend

Opponents contend that permanent Daylight Saving Time would lead to darker mornings, particularly in winter, negatively impacting children waiting for school buses and increasing the risk of accidents. They also cite potential disruptions to sleep patterns, agricultural schedules, and the overall quality of life for those who prefer more morning light.

The bill text is very short and easily digestible, allowing for quick comprehension of its core provisions by any informed reader.

Section 2(a)

Repeal of Temporary Daylight Saving Time Period

prominently featuredstraightforward

This provision eliminates the existing federal law, Section 3 of the Uniform Time Act of 1966, which mandates a temporary period for Daylight Saving Time each year. By repealing this section, the bill removes the legal basis for the twice-yearly clock changes, setting the stage for a permanent time standard.

GroupImpactMechanismScale

GroupGeneral PublicImpactEliminates the biannual practice of changing clocks forward and backward.MechanismRepeals 15 U.S.C. 260a, which defines the temporary period for Daylight Saving Time.ScaleNational

Supporters argue

Supporters argue that eliminating the time change will reduce confusion, improve sleep consistency, and remove a widely disliked annual inconvenience, contributing to overall public well-being.

Critics contend

Critics might argue that this repeal, without a clear and universally accepted alternative, could lead to a patchwork of state-level time decisions if not paired with a robust new federal standard.

Tradeoffs

This provision balances the desire for consistent timekeeping against potential state autonomy in setting time standards, by removing the federal mandate for a temporary DST period.

Section 2(b)(1)

Permanent Advancement of Standard Time

prominently featuredstraightforward

This section amends the Uniform Time Act of 1966 (commonly known as the Calder Act) to effectively make Daylight Saving Time permanent. It does this by adjusting the definitions of standard time for each time zone, advancing them by one hour relative to their previous standard time. This means that clocks would not 'fall back' in the autumn, and the time observed during what was previously Daylight Saving Time would become the year-round standard.

Section 2(b)(2)

State Opt-Out Option for Previously Exempted Areas

mentioned in summarystraightforward

This provision allows states or areas within states that previously opted out of Daylight Saving Time (e.g., Arizona, Hawaii) to choose between adhering to the new permanent Daylight Saving Time standard or reverting to their previous standard time as it existed before the bill's enactment. This preserves their historical autonomy in timekeeping.

About this analysis. AI-Generated from the official bill text and available committee reports. Gaps in available data are noted explicitly. Verify important details with the official Congress.gov record.

CosmeticWhat changed in REFERRED IN SENATEcompared with ENGROSSED IN HOUSE (Jul 14, 2026)

H.R. 139119th CongressIntroduced Jan 3, 2025

Sunshine Protection Act of 2025

Passed HouseScience, Technology, CommunicationsMajor

View bill text

Sponsor: Rep. Buchanan, Vern [R-FL-16]
Committees: Energy and Commerce Committee (primary)
Last action: Jul 15, 2026

Bottom line

What it actually does

Proponents argue

Opponents contend

The bill text is very short and easily digestible, allowing for quick comprehension of its core provisions by any informed reader.

Section 2(a)

Repeal of Temporary Daylight Saving Time Period

prominently featuredstraightforward

GroupImpactMechanismScale

Supporters argue

Supporters argue that eliminating the time change will reduce confusion, improve sleep consistency, and remove a widely disliked annual inconvenience, contributing to overall public well-being.

Critics contend

Critics might argue that this repeal, without a clear and universally accepted alternative, could lead to a patchwork of state-level time decisions if not paired with a robust new federal standard.

Tradeoffs

This provision balances the desire for consistent timekeeping against potential state autonomy in setting time standards, by removing the federal mandate for a temporary DST period.

Section 2(b)(1)

Permanent Advancement of Standard Time

prominently featuredstraightforward

Section 2(b)(2)

State Opt-Out Option for Previously Exempted Areas

mentioned in summarystraightforward