Locking the Clock: Congress Advances Legislation to End Bi-Annual Time Changes
Washington, Friday, 22 May 2026.
A near-unanimous committee vote advanced legislation to lock U.S. clocks permanently, a move poised to significantly reshape national retail patterns, supply chain logistics, and energy consumption.
Legislative Momentum and Committee Action
On Thursday, May 15, 2026, the House Energy and Commerce Committee took a decisive step by voting to report a comprehensive transportation funding package to the full House [1]. This package, known as the Motor Vehicle Modernization Act (H.R. 7389), officially includes the Sunshine Protection Act (H.R. 139) as an Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute [2]. The committee’s nearly unanimous approval, with 48 members voting in favor and only one against, represents an overwhelming 97.959 percent majority support [1]. This legislative action follows a confirmation on Wednesday, May 14, 2026, that the bill would receive a full markup, signaling serious intent to transition the proposal from a long-standing campaign promise into actionable federal policy [1].
Bipartisan Backing and Dissenting Voices
The push to lock the clocks enjoys broad bipartisan support across both chambers of Congress [1]. The House version currently boasts 32 bipartisan cosponsors, while its Senate companion bill (S. 29), reintroduced last year by Senator Rick Scott, a Republican from Florida, has secured 18 bipartisan cosponsors [1][2]. Furthermore, former President Donald Trump has consistently expressed his desire to end the twice-annual time change, adding significant political weight to the initiative [2]. However, the path to enactment has not always been smooth; an attempt by the Senate to fast-track its version of the bill last year was ultimately thwarted [1].
State-Level Momentum and Practical Impacts
If the Sunshine Protection Act is successfully implemented, the United States would permanently observe the time currently maintained between March and November [1]. This shift would mean that during the winter months, from November through February, sunrises in many parts of the country would occur after 8:00 a.m., and in some western edges of time zones, after 9:00 a.m. [1]. Conversely, winter sunsets in much of the U.S. would be pushed past 5:00 p.m., providing extended evening daylight [1]. It is important to note that regions currently exempt from daylight saving time, such as Hawaii and most of Arizona, would likely maintain their current timekeeping practices [1]. This extended evening daylight is precisely what proponents argue will stimulate retail foot traffic and shift national energy consumption patterns [GPT].