Overview
- The House scheduled a floor vote next week after a notice posted Thursday that moves the Sunshine Protection Act out of committee and toward full consideration.
- The bill, championed by Representative Vern Buchanan, won a 48-1 vote in the House Energy and Commerce Committee and would make daylight saving time permanent while allowing individual states to opt out.
- Supporters say ending the twice-yearly clock change would reduce sleep disruption, lower workplace injuries and car crashes, and boost evening economic activity in places such as Florida.
- Opponents, led publicly by Senator Tom Cotton, warn the measure would push winter sunrises very late in many states and create safety risks for children traveling to school, a concern that helped stall similar efforts in the past.
- If the House approves the measure, the Senate would need to take it up again before it reaches the president, and the outcome could reshape school schedules, evening commerce and regional politics over sunrise timing.