Why the US House voted to make Daylight Saving Time permanent?

The U.S. House on Tuesday (July 14, 2026) voted in favour of making daylight saving time permanent, passing the “Sunshine Protection Act” with a vote of 308 to 117. It is now moving to the Senate for the next stage of the legislative process. This marks the end of the twice-yearly practice of changing clocks that has been observed across most of the United States since the 1960s.

Proponents, including the White House, argued the change would provide more daylight during the times that Americans are most active. However, the bill's future in the Senate is uncertain, as some Republican leaders have expressed doubts about its advancement and at least one Republican has indicated plans to oppose it.

Also read: That time of year to steady time in the West

What is Daylight Saving Time (DST)?

Daylight Saving Time, also known as summer time, is the period between spring and autumn when clocks in most parts of the United States are set one hour ahead of Standard Time, so that evenings have more daylight and mornings have less.

The United States first adopted the Daylight Saving Time (DST) system in 1918 with the Standard Time Act, aimed at conserving energy and maximising daylight usage. During both World Wars, the U.S. enacted daylight saving laws, again emphasising on energy conservation. However, for various periods in the 20th century, time practices across the country were inconsistent. To address this, Congress enacted the Uniform Time Act of 1966, which established standardised clock changes throughout the nation. Today, this system is observed nationwide, with the exceptions of Hawaii and most of Arizona.

Also read: To make the most of daylight advantage

Under the Sunshine Protection Act, DST becomes permanent, meaning Americans will no longer turn their clocks back in November.

However, states could opt out of year-round daylight saving time if they do not currently observe it or voted ​to adopt permanent Standard Time before the law was changed.

Many countries have experimented with daylight saving at some point but later dropped it, choosing instead to stick with consistent time zones year-round.

Why the Sunshine Protection Act divides experts?

Supporters say changing the clocks disrupts sleep, increases workplace injuries and contributes to more road accidents. They contend that keeping clocks set an hour ahead year-round would provide more evening daylight and boost economic activity during the winter months.

However, critics argue that this change would result in the sun rising an hour later on winter mornings, which would leave more children travelling to school and commuters—such as construction workers and farmers—heading to work before daylight. In some regions, the sun might not rise until nearly 9 a.m. or later at the height of winter.

President Donald Trump has repeatedly called for an end to the twice-yearly clock changes and strongly supports this measure. The White House stated on Tuesday that it “would eliminate the time, hassle, and cost involved in changing clocks twice a year, saving Americans hundreds of millions of dollars annually.”

Why is DST not observed in India?

The sun consistently rises at 6 a.m. and sets at 6 p.m. on the Equator, regardless of the season. This consistency is due to the tilt of the Earth's axis, which is approximately 23.5 degrees. As we move away from the Equator, either north or south, the length of days and nights changes. At the poles, for instance, the sun remains above the horizon for six months at a time and then does not rise at all for the next six months.

In tropical countries, the duration of daylight and darkness does not fluctuate significantly throughout the seasons. If India were to implement Daylight Saving Time (DST), the inconvenience of adjusting time twice a year, once in the summer and once in the winter, would affect the entire country, yielding only marginal benefits. Additionally, the risks of rail accidents would remain high. In fact, in the U.S. and Canada, there is a noticeable increase in road accidents in the days immediately following the time change.

Also read: Advance Indian Standard Time by half an hour

Moreover, India does not adopt DST because proposals for it have not received official approval, with stakeholders considering multiple time zones or significant temporal shifts unsuitable. Instead, a high-level committee determined that the Indian Standard Time (IST) should be maintained, prioritising a unified national time over regional adjustments despite energy and daylight challenges in the Northeast.

(With Agencies Inputs)