The "Sunshine Protection Act of 2025" would make daylight saving time permanent across the United States, allowing states to choose to revert to standard time as it was before the act's enactment.
Rick Scott
Senator
FL
The Sunshine Protection Act of 2025 would make daylight saving time permanent across the United States, effectively eliminating the need to change clocks twice a year. It repeals the section of the Uniform Time Act that allows for standard time and adjusts time zone offsets from Greenwich Mean Time. States that previously opted out of daylight saving time would have the option to choose between the new, permanent daylight saving time or the previous standard time.
Sunshine Protection Act of 2025: Daylight Saving Time Goes Permanent, But States Can Opt Out
The "Sunshine Protection Act of 2025" aims to make daylight saving time the new normal across the U.S., ditching the whole switching-clocks-twice-a-year thing. The core change? It cancels Section 3 of the old Uniform Time Act of 1966, which is the part that made daylight saving time temporary. It also tweaks the time zone offsets from Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) – basically, shifting everything forward by an hour permanently.
Time's Up For Clock Changes?
The main idea is to stop the clock-switching hassle. Instead of springing forward and falling back, we'd stay on daylight saving time year-round. This means later sunrises and later sunsets throughout the year. For example, instead of it getting dark at 5 PM in December, it might stay light until 6 PM. But, your early morning jog might be in the dark.
Real-World Time Tweaks
This shift could shake things up in a few ways. Think about businesses that rely on daylight, like construction or outdoor recreation – they might see a boost. On the flip side, anyone who starts work early (like those in bakeries or some trades) might be heading in while it's still dark out. It also has the potential to mess with our internal body clocks, also known as circadian rhythms, which could lead to disrupted sleep.
There's also a wrinkle for states like Arizona and Hawaii that currently don't observe daylight saving time. This bill lets them pick their poison: stick with their old standard time or jump on board with the new, permanent daylight saving time. This could get confusing if you're traveling or doing business across state lines. Imagine calling your supplier in Arizona, only to find they're on a different time than you expected.
The Big Picture
While the "Sunshine Protection Act" sounds simple, it's got layers. We're talking about potential impacts on everything from energy use (studies are mixed on whether we'd save electricity) to our sleep schedules. Section 2 of the bill lays out the GMT offset changes, and it's a bit technical. Plus, letting states choose their time zone could create a patchwork of times across the country, impacting interstate commerce and travel. The bill essentially creates a new standard, but with built-in exceptions that could make things complicated. It will change how we coordinate with people internationally, as well, given the changes in offsets from GMT.