HR 139 · 119th CongressIn Committee

Sunshine Protection Act of 2025

Latest updateJan 3, 2025

Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Science, Technology, Communications

Sponsor

Vern Buchanan

Introduced

January 3, 2025

Latest action

January 3, 2025

Legislative Progress

How far this bill has traveled through Congress

Introduced

Bill filed in chamber

Committee

Reviewed & reported

Passed Chamber

House or Senate vote

Passed Both

House & Senate agree

President

Sent to White House

Enacted

Signed into law

Introduced

Bill filed in chamber

Committee

Reviewed & reported

Passed Chamber

House or Senate vote

Passed Both

House & Senate agree

President

Sent to White House

Enacted

Signed into law

Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Plain-Language Summary

AI Generated

Currently, the Uniform Time Act of 1966 establishes a temporary period each year when daylight saving time is in effect, typically from mid-March to early November. During this period, clocks are set forward one hour. The law also allows states and certain areas within states to exempt themselves from daylight saving time and remain on standard time year-round. However, no state or region is currently permitted to remain on daylight saving time permanently; they must either observe the annual clock changes or stay on standard time.

The Sunshine Protection Act of 2025 repeals the temporary daylight saving time period and makes daylight saving time permanent nationwide. The bill amends the Calder Act of 1918 to adjust the time zone offsets from the prime meridian, effectively locking the country into daylight saving time year-round. States and areas that have previously exempted themselves from daylight saving time under current law retain the option to remain on standard time if they choose, or they may adopt the new permanent daylight saving time. The bill preserves state flexibility by allowing each state to decide whether to observe permanent daylight saving time or permanent standard time.

The change takes effect upon enactment, eliminating the twice-yearly clock adjustments that currently occur. No new federal funding is required, as the bill operates within existing timekeeping authority. The shift affects scheduling across transportation, commerce, and daily life—sunrise and sunset times will shift one hour later year-round compared to current standard time. States that choose permanent standard time will maintain their existing practices, while those adopting permanent daylight saving time will experience extended evening daylight throughout the year, including winter months.

Key Provisions

1Repeal the temporary daylight saving time period established by the Uniform Time Act of 1966, eliminating the requirement for states to observe seasonal clock changes.
2Amend the Calder Act of 1918 to adjust time zone offsets, making daylight saving time permanent nationwide by advancing standard time by one hour year-round.
3Authorize states and areas that have previously exempted themselves from daylight saving time to choose between permanent daylight saving time or permanent standard time based on state preference.
4Preserve state authority to determine their own time observance by allowing states to maintain standard time if they previously exempted themselves from daylight saving time requirements.

★ Why this matters

Clocks will no longer change twice yearly; the country will remain on daylight saving time year-round unless a state opts out. Sunrise and sunset times will shift one hour later throughout the year, including winter months, extending evening daylight but delaying morning sunrise. Scheduling for transportation, commerce, schools, and daily routines will adjust to the permanent later time. States that choose to remain on standard time will experience the opposite effect—earlier sunrises and earlier sunsets year-round.

● Who this affects

Working Americans in states that adopt permanent daylight saving time, who will experience later sunrises during winter months; parents and school administrators managing morning schedules; transportation and logistics companies coordinating schedules across time zones; farmers and agricultural workers whose operations depend on daylight hours; residents of states that opt to remain on standard time, including Hawaii, most of Arizona, and U.S. territories; and businesses operating across multiple states with different time observances.

Bill Text

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<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 139

    To make daylight savings time permanent, and for other purposes.

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 3, 2025

 Mr. Buchanan introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                    Committee on Energy and Commerce

                                 A BILL

 
    To make daylight savings time permanent, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Sunshine Protection Act of 2025''.

SEC. 2. MAKING DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME PERMANENT.

    (a) Repeal of Temporary Period for Daylight Savings Time.--Section 
3 of the Uniform Time Act of 1966 (15 U.S.C. 260a) is hereby repealed.
    (b) Advancement of Standard Time.--
            (1) In general.--The second sentence of subsection (a) of 
        section 1 of the Act of March 19, 1918 (commonly known as the 
        ``Calder Act'') (15 U.S.C. 261), is amended--
                    (A) by striking ``4 hours'' and inserting ``3 
                hours'';
                    (B) by striking ``5 hours'' and inserting ``4 
                hours'';
                    (C) by striking ``6 hours'' and inserting ``5 
                hours'';
                    (D) by striking ``7 hours'' and inserting ``6 
                hours'';
                    (E) by striking ``8 hours'' and inserting ``by 7 
                hours'';
                    (F) by striking ``9 hours'' and inserting ``8 
                hours'';
                    (G) by striking ``10 hours;'' and inserting ``9 
                hours;'';
                    (H) by striking ``11 hours'' and inserting ``10 
                hours''; and
                    (I) by striking ``10 hours.'' and inserting ``11 
                hours.''.
            (2) State exemption.--Such section is further amended by--
                    (A) redesignating subsection (b) as subsection (c); 
                and
                    (B) inserting after subsection (a) the following:
    ``(b) Standard Time for Certain States and Areas.--The standard 
time for a State that has exempted itself from the provisions of 
section 3(a) of the Uniform Time Act of 1966 (15 U.S.C. 260a(a)), as in 
effect on the day before the date of the enactment of the Sunshine 
Protection Act of 2025, pursuant to such section, or an area of a State 
that has exempted such area from such provisions pursuant to such 
section, shall be, as such State considers appropriate--
            ``(1) the standard time for such State or area, as the case 
        may be, pursuant to subsection (a) of this section; or
            ``(2) the standard time for such State or area, as the case 
        may be, pursuant to subsection (a) of this section as it was in 
        effect on the day before the da…

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D-North Carolina · District 12

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Sunshine Protection Act of 2025

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