Congress is one step closer to making daylight saving time permanent.
On July 14, the House of Representatives passed a bill that would allow states to enact daylight saving time year-round, a shift from the existing practice of changing clocks twice a year.
If passed by the Senate and signed into law, the legislation – which cleared the House 308-117 – would largely stop the practice of moving clocks an hour forward in the spring and an hour back in the fall.
Introduced by Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Florida, the Sunshine Protection Act of 2025 passed the House after years of failed efforts in Congress to reform daylight saving time.
Here’s what to know about the latest push to make daylight saving time permanent.
What Is Daylight Saving Time?
Daylight saving time is the practice of setting clocks forward an hour from March until November in an effort to gain more sunlight during the summer months.
According to the Library of Congress, it was first enacted in 1918 as a fuel cost-saving measure during World War I.
Daylight saving time became federal law under the Uniform Time Act of 1966.
Under the law, some states can opt to exempt itself from daylight saving time. Daylight saving time is not observed in Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and most of Arizona, according to the Department of Transportation.
Daylight Saving Time Bill Heads to the Senate
After being passed in the House, the permanent daylight saving time bill still has a ways to go before becoming law.
Next, it will head to the Senate, where its fate remains unclear. If it clears Congress’ upper chamber, it will go to President Donald Trump’s desk for him to sign into law.
Trump has in the past expressed support for permanent daylight saving time, so it appears likely that, if passed by the Senate, he would sign it into law.
Most recently, he called daylight saving time a “ridiculous, twice yearly production” in a May Truth Social post.
“I am going to work very hard to see The Sunshine Protection Act signed into Law. It’s time that people can stop worrying about the ‘Clock,’” he wrote.
What Does Making Daylight Saving Time Permanent Mean?
If permanent daylight saving time becomes law, it would do away with a “spring forward” in March and a “fall back” in November.
Meaning, the move would prompt later sunrises and sunsets during a significant portion of the year.
Supporters, like Buchanan, argue that permanent daylight saving time would have positive health impacts. Critics, like the group Airlines for America, say that it would have major implications for travelers.
Melina Khan is a national trending reporter for USA TODAY. Keep up with her on X @melinakh and Instagram @bymelinakhan.
Reporting by Melina Khan, USA TODAY / USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect.