# Senate scheduled to debate Sunshine Protection Act > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/us-daylightsaving-time-legislation > Updated: 2026-08-17T07:17:56.000Z. Sources: 211. Developments: 14. The bipartisan Sunshine Protection Act, which would make daylight‑saving time permanent nationwide while permitting states to opt out, passed the House on July 14, 2026, with a 308‑117 supermajority. The measure, championed by Rep. Vern Buchanan (R‑FL) and endorsed by President Donald Trump, cites benefits such as reduced traffic deaths, lower crime rates, and extra evening daylight for families and tourism. In the Senate, the bill has encountered strong opposition. Senators Tom Cotton (R‑AR) and Steve Daines (R‑MT) warn that a year‑round DST schedule would push winter sunrises to as late as 9:30 a.m. in parts of the country, endangering schoolchildren and early‑morning commuters. Orthodox Jewish groups have also voiced concerns that later sunrises would disrupt morning prayers and holiday observances. While medical organizations support a single‑time schedule, some agricultural interests have expressed concerns regarding health and farming impacts. President Trump has intensified his pressure on the Senate, using social media to label the biannual clock changes “foolish, inconvenient and very costly.” He has described the current practice as “absurd” and has urged Congress to “Do it once and for all!” regarding the passage of legislation to end biannual changes. New opposition has emerged from health experts, specifically the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, which warned that permanent daylight saving time could cause misalignment with human circadian rhythms. In response, some lawmakers have suggested the ‘Sunshine for our Kids Act’ as an alternative. The Senate is now scheduled to debate the Sunshine Protection Act on September 14, 2026, with ongoing discussions focusing on safety implications such as school zone traffic during winter months. ## Claims - The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Sunshine Protection Act by a vote of 308‑117. (disputed by 4 sources) - The Senate previously passed the Sunshine Protection Act by unanimous consent in March 2022, but the bill stalled in the House. (disputed) - Donald Trump urged the Senate to pass legislation ending twice‑yearly clock changes. (corroborated by 5 sources) - The legislation Trump supports is the Sunshine Protection Act, which would make Daylight Saving Time permanent year‑round. (corroborated by 5 sources) - Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social that he would work hard to see the Sunshine Protection Act signed into law. (corroborated by 5 sources) - Critics say permanent Daylight Saving Time could have economic consequences for farmers because of later sunrises. (corroborated by 4 sources) - At least 19 U.S. states have passed legislation or resolutions for year‑round Daylight Saving Time since 2018. (single source) - A March 2023 YouGov poll found roughly half of Americans favor a fixed year‑round time, split evenly between permanent Daylight Saving Time and permanent Standard Time. (single source) ## Timeline ### 2026-08-17: United States Senate to debate Sunshine Protection Act The U.S. Senate is set to debate the Sunshine Protection Act in September 2026, a bill that would make Daylight Saving Time permanent nationwide. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/united-states-senate-to-debate-sunshine-protection-act ### 2026-08-16: Donald Trump urges Senate to end biannual time changes Donald Trump has urged the Senate to pass the ‘No More Changing the Clocks Act’ to end biannual time changes, citing daily disruptions and potential crime reduction through increased evening daylight. 6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/donald-trump-urges-senate-to-end-biannual-time-changes ### 2026-08-12: Sunshine Protection Act moves to Senate after House vote The U.S. House has passed the Sunshine Protection Act to make daylight saving time permanent. President Trump is urging Senate approval, while sleep experts warn of potential health risks. 9 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/trump-urges-senate-to-pass-sunshine-protection-act-for-permanent-daylight-saving-time ### 2026-08-09: Sunshine Protection Act faces uncertain Senate future The fate of the Sunshine Protection Act remains uncertain in the Senate, leaving millions of Americans likely to still change their clocks back on November 1. 6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/sunshine-protection-act-faces-uncertain-senate-future ### 2026-08-05: Donald Trump pushes Senate to approve permanent daylight saving time The House passed the Sunshine Protection Act to make daylight‑saving time permanent; President Trump urged the Senate to approve it, citing safety and economic benefits, but Senate action remains pending. 6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/donald-trump-pushes-senate-to-approve-permanent-daylight-saving-time ### 2026-07-27: Donald Trump Presses Senate to Pass Year‑Round Daylight Saving Time Bill Former President Donald Trump urged the Senate to pass the Sunshine Protection Act for permanent Daylight Saving Time after the House approved it 308‑117. 9 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/donald-trump-presses-senate-to-pass-yearround-daylight-saving-time-bill ### 2026-07-24: US Senate faces opposition to permanent daylight‑saving time bill The U.S. House passed a bill to make daylight‑saving time permanent, but the Senate faces opposition from key Republicans and Orthodox Jewish groups over safety and prayer‑time concerns. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/us-senate-faces-obstacles-to-permanent-daylightsaving-time-legislation ### 2026-07-21: U.S. Senate stalls Sunshine Protection Act for permanent daylight saving time The House passed the Sunshine Protection Act to make DST permanent, but the Senate is blocking it amid geographic and health concerns, with key opposition from Senators Cotton and Daines. 10 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/us-senate-stalls-sunshine-protection-act-to-make-daylight-saving-permanent ### 2026-07-19: U.S. House passes Sunshine Protection Act to make daylight saving time permanent The U.S. House approved the Sunshine Protection Act 308‑117 on July 14 2026, aiming to make daylight‑saving time permanent; the bill now heads to the Senate amid debate over darker winter mornings and health as 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/us-house-passes-bill-to-make-daylight-saving-time-permanent-3 ### 2026-07-17: U.S. House Passes Sunshine Protection Act to Make Daylight Saving Time Permanent The U.S. House passed the bipartisan Sunshine Protection Act (308‑117) to make daylight saving time permanent; the bill heads to the Senate and needs the president’s signature, amid debate over darker winter M‑ 14 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/us-house-approves-sunshine-protection-act-to-make-daylight-saving-time-permanent-1 ### 2026-07-15: US House Passes Sunshine Protection Act for Permanent Daylight Saving The U.S. House passed the Sunshine Protection Act (308‑117) to make daylight‑saving time permanent; the Senate must still approve it amid mixed support and safety concerns. 71 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/us-house-passes-bill-for-yearround-daylightsaving-time ### 2026-07-14: Maryland Rep Andy Harris targeted as Congress moves daylight‑saving time bill forward Democrats plan a Maryland constitutional amendment to redraw Rep. Andy Harris’s district, while the U.S. House passed the bipartisan Sunshine Protection Act to make daylight‑saving time permanent. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/maryland-rep-andy-harris-targeted-as-congress-moves-daylightsaving-time-bill-forward ### 2026-07-13: U.S. House passes Sunshine Protection Act to make daylight saving time permanent The U.S. House approved the Sunshine Protection Act (308‑117) to make daylight‑saving time year‑round, letting states opt out; the bill moves to the Senate amid bipartisan support and health‑safety concerns. 103 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/us-congress-debates-yearround-daylight-saving-time-legislation ### 2026-07-09: U.S. House to vote on permanent daylight‑saving time The U.S. House will vote next week on the Sunshine Protection Act to make daylight‑saving time permanent, allowing state opt‑outs amid safety and economic arguments and opposition over late winter sunrises. 7 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/us-house-to-vote-on-permanent-daylightsaving-time --- Cite as: Senate scheduled to debate Sunshine Protection Act. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/us-daylightsaving-time-legislation