Sunshine Protection Act moves to Senate after House vote

The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Sunshine Protection Act with a 308-117 vote, moving legislation to make daylight saving time permanent to the Senate. The bill would allow states to opt out of the year-round shift, which currently prevents states like Hawaii and Arizona from adopting permanent daylight saving time under federal law.

President Donald Trump has expressed strong support for the measure, urging Republican senators to pass it quickly. In statements, he argued that ending biannual clock changes would reduce crime, car accidents, and health issues such as seasonal depression and cardiac risks, while also providing economic boosts to tourism and retail.

However, the proposal faces opposition from health experts. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine has criticized the move, warning that permanent daylight saving time could cause misalignment with human circadian rhythms, leading to chronic sleep deprivation and impacting overall well-being. Some lawmakers have suggested the Sunshine for our Kids Act as an alternative, which would make standard time permanent instead.