There's a bill sitting in Congress right now that could end the twice-yearly ritual of changing the clocks and keep us on daylight saving time. The strangest thing about it is that Democrats and Republicans actually agree on something. I’m almost shocked that Democrats haven’t come out to say that not changing clocks is racist or transphobic or something. But the bill passed with strong bipartisan support, the White House is on board, and after years of talking about this, it may actually happen. So why do I find myself shrugging instead of celebrating, as I would have a few years ago? What changed?
On Tuesday, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 139, the Sunshine Protection Act, by a vote of 308-117. The bill would end the twice-a-year ritual of springing forward and falling back and lock the country into daylight saving time year-round.
Supporters argue permanent daylight saving time would give Americans more daylight during the hours they're actually awake and out in the world. Makes perfect sense, right? It really does. In fact, this is one of the rare issues where Democrats and Republicans genuinely agree.
As PJ Media editor Chris Queen recently noted, a 2025 Associated Press-NORC poll found only 12% of Americans favor keeping the current system of changing clocks twice a year, while roughly half oppose it outright. Of the rest, 56% want permanent daylight saving time, with more evening light and less morning light. 42% want the opposite: permanent standard time, with sunlight loaded into the morning instead.
ICYMI: Democrats Don't Want You to See This Video of Biden on Election Interference
AP-NORC called the issue unusual, writing that "Daylight saving time remains a rare, non-partisan issue." Democrats and Republicans oppose the current twice-a-year system in nearly identical numbers, which is exactly why the Senate passed a permanent DST bill back in 2022, even though it died in the House without ever getting a vote.
States would still be free to opt out of the permanent switch if their legislatures act before the bill takes effect, and the Senate would have to pass its own version before Trump could sign it into law. But there's no sign the Senate is in any hurry to move it.
So here's my confession. A few years ago, I would have been thrilled beyond belief watching this bill clear the House. I still lean in favor of permanent daylight saving time today. But the excitement has faded, and I think I know why.
I hate early sunsets. I always have. When I worked in Buffalo, N.Y., there was nothing worse than walking out of the office building at 5 p.m. to find it already completely dark. It was depressing, as if the entire day had been sacrificed to my job. But these days, I work from home. Half the time, I'm not entirely sure what day of the week it is, let alone what hour it is.
Maybe that's the real story here.
Congress finally has the bipartisan will to fix something Americans have complained about for decades, and I'm sitting here more ambivalent than I've ever been about the outcome. Whatever happens, happens. I'll take it either way. But I can't help wondering how many other Americans, once they got what they always said they wanted, would feel the same way.
