Congress Could End Clock Changes — but Darker Winter Mornings Loom

Last updated: July 14, 2026, 11:32 a.m.

The twice-yearly clock change may be nearing its final turn, but the replacement could push winter sunrise past 9 a.m. in parts of the country. The House is preparing to vote on the Sunshine Protection Act, a proposal to make daylight saving time the national default while allowing states to opt out. The measure has bipartisan support, President Donald Trump’s backing and a competing bill that would move the country in the opposite direction.

What We Know So Far

The House Rules Committee voted 6-4 to advance the Sunshine Protection Act, setting up a full House vote. That followed a 48-1 vote by the House Energy and Commerce Committee in May. The legislation would end the practice of moving clocks forward in spring and back in fall, making daylight saving time permanent unless a state chooses permanent standard time instead. The House measure still would need Senate approval before it could reach the president.

Daylight saving time currently runs for about 34 weeks, from early-to-mid March until the first Sunday in November in most states. Hawaii and most of Arizona do not observe it, and several U.S. territories also remain on standard time. The Navajo Nation, which spans parts of Arizona, Utah and New Mexico, does participate.

Supporters want longer evening daylight during winter and argue that a fixed clock would reduce disruption, support outdoor activity and help businesses. Nearly 20 states have already passed laws or legislation aimed at adopting permanent daylight saving time if Congress allows it. A similar federal proposal passed the Senate unanimously in 2022 but stalled in the House.

A rival bipartisan measure, the Sunshine for Our Kids Act of 2026, would establish permanent standard time nationwide while allowing states to choose year-round daylight saving time. That approach preserves winter morning light but shifts summer sunrise and sunset one hour earlier. The competing standard-time bill reflects the main dispute: Americans broadly dislike changing clocks, but lawmakers and medical groups disagree over which time should become permanent.

Reactions & Responses

Trump has framed the clock change as costly and unnecessary, while congressional supporters emphasize convenience, recreation and economic activity.

It’s time that people can stop worrying about the ‘Clock,’ not to mention all of the work and money that is spent on this ridiculous, twice-yearly production.

Medical organizations have taken a different position. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine, American Medical Association and National Sleep Foundation support permanent standard time, arguing that morning light better matches the body’s circadian rhythm, the internal system that regulates sleep and alertness.

Permanent standard time is the optimal choice for health and safety.

Opponents in Congress also point to the country’s brief experiment with year-round daylight saving time in the 1970s, which was reversed after backlash over dark winter mornings. Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton warned that some students would begin school before sunrise for months.

On the Ground

The choice would be visible every morning and evening. Under permanent daylight saving time, Detroit could see winter sunrise around 9 a.m.; parts of Montana, North Dakota and Michigan could remain dark until after 9:30 a.m. Chicago would sometimes see sunrise after 8 a.m., while Nashville’s latest sunrise would move from 6:58 a.m. to 7:58 a.m. and Knoxville’s to 8:46 a.m..

The payoff would come after work and school. Nashville’s earliest winter sunset would shift from 4:32 p.m. to 5:32 p.m.. Permanent standard time would avoid those darker mornings, but summer sunsets would arrive an hour earlier; Seattle, for example, could see sunrise at 4:11 a.m. in June.

Coming Up

The House vote is scheduled for Tuesday, July 14, 2026. Passage would not immediately change anyone’s clock: the Senate would still need to approve the legislation, and the president would need to sign it.

Unless Congress completes that process and changes the law, Americans in participating states can expect to set clocks back on November 1. The unresolved question is no longer whether to stop switching, but whether permanent daylight saving time or permanent standard time should replace the current system.

At a Glance

• The House is preparing to vote on the Sunshine Protection Act.
• The bill would make daylight saving time permanent while allowing state opt-outs.
• The proposal advanced from committee by votes of 48-1 and 6-4.
• Nearly 20 states have approved moves toward permanent daylight saving time.
• Medical groups favor permanent standard time because of morning-light concerns.
• Without a new law, clocks are scheduled to fall back on November 1.

Frequently Asked Questions

When does daylight saving time end in 2026?

Under the current schedule, daylight saving time ends on November 1, 2026, when participating states set clocks back one hour.

What would the Sunshine Protection Act do?

It would end seasonal clock changes and make daylight saving time the national default, while allowing states to opt for permanent standard time.

Has permanent daylight saving time passed Congress?

No. The House is scheduled to vote, and any House-approved bill would still need Senate passage and the president’s signature.

Which states do not observe daylight saving time?

Hawaii and most of Arizona do not observe it. The Navajo Nation does participate, despite spanning parts of Arizona.