Daylight Saving Time: Law Or Not?

The Sunshine Protection Act is a proposed United States federal law that would make daylight saving time permanent. The bill has been proposed in several sessions of Congress. In 2022, the Senate passed the bill by unanimous consent, but it has not passed the House. The bill would establish a permanent daylight saving time in the U.S., leading to later sunrises and sunsets during the months in which most of the U.S. currently observes standard time.

The Sunshine Protection Act

In March 2022, the Senate passed the bill by unanimous consent, but it has yet to pass the House. The 2023 version of the bill was referred to committees in the House and Senate in March of that year, but there has been no further movement as of September 2024.

The Act has received bipartisan support, with sponsors and cosponsors from both parties. Supporters of the bill argue that it would enable children to play outdoors for longer and reduce seasonal depression. It would also put an end to the negative effects of changing clocks twice a year, which include reduced worker productivity, increased heart attacks and strokes, increased medical errors, and increased traffic incidents.

However, there is opposition to the bill, with some arguing that permanent standard time would be more beneficial for health and human welfare. There are concerns about children travelling to school in the dark during the winter months, and religious concerns have also been raised.

As of 2024, the Sunshine Protection Act has not been presented to Congress and remains stalled in committees. While there is public support for ending the biannual clock changes, there is no consensus on whether permanent standard time or daylight saving time is preferred.

The bill's history in the Senate

The Sunshine Protection Act was first introduced in 2018 by Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) in the Senate and by Representative Vern Buchanan (R-FL) in the House of Representatives. The bill aimed to make daylight saving time permanent in the US, meaning the time would no longer change twice a year.

The 2018 bill failed to advance, and a reintroduction in 2019 also did not succeed. However, the 2021 version of the bill, which was filed in the House by Buchanan on January 4, 2021, and in the Senate by Rubio on March 9, 2021, passed the Senate by unanimous consent on March 15, 2022.

The bill received bipartisan support in the Senate and was co-sponsored by senators from both parties. It was referred to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, which discharged it by unanimous consent. The bill then moved to the House, where it faced uncertain prospects.

The 117th Congress ended without the House voting on the bill, and it did not become law. A new version of the bill was introduced in 2023 but is currently at a standstill.

While the Sunshine Protection Act has gained support from some lawmakers and citizens, it has also faced opposition and has not progressed beyond the Senate since its introduction in 2022.

The bill's history in the House

The Sunshine Protection Act was first introduced in the House of Representatives in 2018 by Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL). It was reintroduced in 2019 by the same representative but failed to advance.

The 2021 version of the bill was filed in the House by Buchanan on January 4, 2021, and in the Senate by Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) on March 9, 2021. The bill received bipartisan support and was co-sponsored by several senators from both parties. It passed the Senate by unanimous consent on March 15, 2022, and was then sent to the House.

However, the bill faced uncertain prospects in the House, and ultimately, the 117th Congress ended without the House voting on it.

A similar bill was reintroduced in 2023 by Sen. Rubio in the Senate and Rep. Buchanan in the House. As of March 2024, the 2023 bill has been referred to the Subcommittee on Innovation, Data, and Commerce in the House.

While the bill has gained some support, there are differing opinions on whether it should be a priority for lawmakers. Some argue that there are more pressing issues to address, such as high inflation, gun violence, and judicial threats on issues like abortion and marriage equality. There are also disagreements over the permanent time, with some preferring daylight saving time for tourism and others preferring standard time for agricultural reasons.

Public opinion on permanent daylight saving time

Proponents of permanent daylight saving time, including Senators Marco Rubio of Florida and Edward Markey of Massachusetts, argue that it would enable families to spend more time outdoors in the evenings, potentially helping to combat childhood obesity. They also claim that it could improve public safety, save energy, and boost mental health. Additionally, business, retail, and restaurant groups often support this idea as it would mean people have more daylight after work or school to participate in the economy.

On the other hand, health specialists, safety experts, and sleep experts argue that permanent standard time is better for health and human welfare. They claim that standard time aligns more closely with the body's natural circadian rhythm, which regulates sleep and wake cycles. Permanent daylight saving time would result in darker morning commutes, which could increase the risk of accidents, especially for children waiting for school buses or walking to school. Additionally, later sunrises during the winter months could negatively impact mental health and increase the risk of social jet lag, leading to a higher risk of obesity, heart disease, and depression.

Public opinion polls reflect this divide. A 2023 YouGov poll found that half of Americans supported permanent daylight time, while 31% favoured permanent standard time, and 19% had no preference or were unsure. Similarly, a 2022 CBS News poll showed that 46% of Americans preferred staying in daylight time year-round, while 33% supported staying in standard time, and 21% wanted to keep the current switching of clocks.

While there is a clear interest in ending the biannual time changes, the public remains divided on whether to adopt permanent daylight saving time or permanent standard time.

The impact of permanent daylight saving time

The Sunshine Protection Act, a bill to make Daylight Saving Time permanent, has been reintroduced in the U.S. Senate by Senator Marco Rubio, with companion legislation in the House introduced by Rep. Vern Buchanan. The bill has not yet been presented to Congress and remains in committee.

Supporters of the bill argue that permanent DST would enable children to play outdoors later and reduce seasonal depression. It could also prevent a slight uptick in car crashes and have other positive health impacts. In addition, it could boost businesses such as golf courses that could benefit from more evening daylight.

However, critics of the bill argue that permanent DST would negatively impact health, particularly sleep cycles. Horacio de la Iglesia, a professor of biology at the University of Washington, claims that permanent DST would be like "living in the wrong time zone for almost eight months out of the year". He suggests that permanent standard time would be preferable, as human beings have evolved to be in tune with the solar day.

The National Association of Convenience Stores also opposes the change, arguing that "we should not have kids going to school in the dark".

While permanent DST has gained support from some lawmakers and citizens, it has also faced opposition and remains a divisive issue.

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