Latest news with #SunshineProtectionActof2025
USA Today
18-07-2025
- Politics
- USA Today
Trump says daylight saving time is 'popular,' but enough to be permanent?
Nearly a month after the 2025 summer solstice – the so-called longest day of the year – the amount of afternoon daylight in the U.S. has been slowly diminishing and eventually will give way to the early nights of late fall and winter. But what if an extra hour of evening daylight could be squeezed out of every day? That's what almost 20 states have advocated for by passing measures in recent years in favor of year-round daylight saving time. President Donald Trump expressed support for such a notion as recently as three months ago, calling it 'very popular,'' though he has also referred to the move as a '50-50 issue.'' The practice of changing clocks twice a year has few supporters, what with the confusion and sleep disruption it creates. The dispute lies on whether to stick with standard time, which in this country runs from the first Sunday in November until the second Sunday in March, or embrace year-long daylight saving time. Here's what we know about the long-running debate: Is Congress any closer to making a change? It appeared that way in January when both chambers introduced legislation for a permanent DST, which in the Senate was known as the Sunshine Protection Act of 2025. Both bills were promoted by Republicans from Florida, at a time when the GOP grabbed control of the House and Senate. But even though the measures have continued to gain sponsors, more than 40 altogether, no action has taken place, and lawmakers from some states have expressed reservations. In 2022, the Senate unanimously approved a bill championed by then-Florida Sen. Marco Rubio for permanent DST, with exceptions for Hawaii and Arizona, but the measure died in the House. What are the pros and cons of both sides? Supporters of full-time DST promote opportunities for more after-school and after-work recreational activities in the daylight and amid warmer temperatures, which could improve the health of children and adults. Advocates also say later daytime hours would lead to reduced energy use, thereby cutting down on the carbon footprint amid growing concerns about climate change. Opponents point out the safety risks of children having to go to school and possibly wait for buses in the dark. They also say later daytime hours disrupt sleep and make it more difficult to wake up when it's dark in the morning. Which states want yearlong DST? Of the 18 states that have enacted legislation for year-round DST since 2018, seven are in the Southeast: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina and Tennessee. Those are all Republican-leaning states, but the issue is not red and blue. Washington, Colorado, Oregon, Minnesota, Delaware and Maine typically favor Democrats and they voted for the switch, and in deep-blue California voters authorized the legislature to ditch the clock-changing system, albeit requiring a two-thirds majority, if Congress allows it. The other states that prefer a permanent DST are Idaho (for the Pacific time zone only), Montana, Oklahoma, Utah and Wyoming. Only Hawaii and Arizona (most of it) observe standard time for the whole year, as do the U.S. territories, including Puerto Rico. How did we get here? DST was implemented as an energy-saving effort during both World War I and WWII. They were temporary measures, as was the adoption of year-round DST in 1974 during a severe energy crisis. In 1966, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Uniform Time Act to standardize timekeeping across a nation that had allowed states to observe DST inconsistently. The law established specific periods for standard time and DST, and though it gave states the option to remain on standard time for the year, it did not allow them to go to permanent DST without congressional approval. Until 2005, DST ended the final Sunday of October and began the first Sunday in April. The Energy Policy Act of 2005 extended the stretch to its current format of nearly eight months. Now the question is whether legislators will 'lock the clock'' and make the later daylight hours permanent.
Axios
07-03-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Trump says it's "hard to get excited" about changing daylight saving time
Days ahead of the semi-annual time change, President Trump said Thursday that it's "hard to get excited" about changing daylight saving time and called it a "50-50 issue." Why it matters: The twice-yearly clock changes are a hot topic but lawmakers' past attempts to get rid of them and switch to permanent daylight saving time have stalled. Driving the news: Trump spoke briefly about clocks springing forward Thursday when signing executive orders. "I assume people would like to have more light later, but some people want to have more light earlier because they don't want to take their kids to school in the dark," he said. "It's very much a fifty-fifty issue and it's something I can do, but a lot of people like it one way, a lot of people like it the other way." Flashback: Trump said in December that the Republican Party would aim to get rid of daylight saving time. "The Republican Party will use its best efforts to eliminate Daylight Saving Time, which has a small but strong constituency, but shouldn't!," Trump wrote on Truth Social. "Daylight Saving Time is inconvenient, and very costly to our nation," he wrote. Sunshine Protection Act of 2025 The latest: Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) reintroduced the Sunshine Protection Act in January to "lock the clock" and "make Daylight Saving Time the year-round standard." "I'm excited to have President Trump back in the White House and fully on board to LOCK THE CLOCK so we can get this good bill passed and make this common-sense change that will simplify and benefit the lives of American families," Scott said in a January statement. Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-Fla.) introduced companion legislation in the House. Yes, but: In 2022, the Sunshine Protection Act passed by unanimous consent by the Senate but was not voted on by the House. Daylight saving time vs. standard time The big picture: Most U.S. adults dislike the clock changes — currently designed to maximized daylight during summer, according to new Gallup polling. Health groups and sleep experts have called for an end to the seasonal shifting of clocks, a ritual first adopted in the U.S. more than a century ago. Groups favor sticking with standard time year-round over daylight saving time because they say it's more aligned with our body clocks. The time changes also affect sleep schedules and can make it hard for kids and their parents to adjust. Time change 2025: Spring forward Zoom in: Sunday, March 9 is the day clocks are changed to daylight saving time starting at 2am. Clocks are set forward one hour to "spring forward" so we lose an hour. Sunrise and sunset will be about one hour later on Sunday than on Saturday. Hawaii and Arizona do not observe daylight saving time except for the Navajo Nation in northeastern Arizona. More from Axios: Dunkin' spring menu launches, nondairy surcharge removed Target CEO: Tariffs will cause food prices to rise in "next couple of days" Sweetgreen adds fries to the menu at restaurants nationwide
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Will daylight saving time become permanent this year? Where the crucial bill stands
Forty-eight of the 50 states in America are once again preparing to turn their clocks forward this Sunday, meaning later sunsets and a day with one less hour of sleep. The idea of making daylight saving time permanent in the U.S. is not a new concept, but where does Congress stand on actually making it happen? What Is The History Of Daylight Saving Time? The Sunshine Protection Act was first introduced in the U.S. Senate in 2021 by Florida senator Marco Rubio. The bill never made it out of Congress, dying within the House of Representatives. Two more iterations of the Sunshine Protection Act were introduced into Congress for the 2023-24 season. One in the House by Florida Rep. Vern Buchanan, the other in the Senate by Rubio, but once again, the bills failed. How Parents Can Prepare Children For Daylight Saving Time Change Now, Buchanan is taking a second shot at permanent daylight saving time in the House, having introduced the bill again for the 2025-26 season. The Sunshine Protection Act of 2025 was introduced a few days into the new year, and so far, hasn't made forward progress in the House. Daylight saving time starts on the second Sunday in March, when every state but Arizona and Hawaii will move forward one hour. In early November, the same 48 states revert to standard time with the end of daylight saving. Maybe 2025 will be the Sunshine Protection Act's time to article source: Will daylight saving time become permanent this year? Where the crucial bill stands
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Your Stories Q&A: Will this weekend be the last time we change the clock for good?
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) — You ask, we answer! Viewer Question: This is a popular topic for the Your Stories Team. This question always comes up when we near a time change. And while this is not a new topic, there is a renewed push to 'Lock the Clock.' According to The Hill, back in December, President Donald Trump threw his support behind eliminating changing the clock twice a year. Senators James Lankford (R-OK) and Rick Scott (R-FL) and Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL) have reintroduced a version of the Sunshine Protection Act in Washington. It calls for daylight saving time to be year-round. Former Senator Marco Rubio, who's now Secretary of State, tried to pass a similar bill in 2022. It received bipartisan support but ultimately stalled. Currently, the Sunshine Protection Act of 2025 has been assigned to the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee in the Senate. If Congress were to pass the bill, it would stop us from changing the clock back an hour in the fall. This would mean the sun wouldn't rise until 8:30 a.m. in December here in Central New York. When discussing 'lock the clock,' there's always controversy when it comes to how it would be locked. Should we follow daylight saving time or standard time? The American Academy of Sleep Medicine has advocated in the past to go with year-round standard time. If standard time became permanent, Central New Yorkers would see summer sunrises before 4:30 a.m. In addition to the federal push to 'lock the clock,' there's also movement in New York. State Senate Bill S297 was introduced in January. It would establish a task force to study the effects of opting out of daylight saving time. The bill states: While there's growing support to stop the practice of changing our clocks, it is something we still have to do until laws are changed. Submit a form. Your Stories Q&A: Will this weekend be the last time we change the clock for good? Your Stories Q&A: What is the towering yellow contraption I see on I-481? Your Stories Q&A: Why are a handful of dollar stores in the area closed? Your Stories Q&A: How to report a pothole Your Stories Q&A: Nationwide shortage means some secondary roads in Clay are not getting salted Your Stories Q&A: New York Thruway Authority once again alerting people to ongoing scam Your Stories Q&A: Is there still a plan to redevelop the old Bird's Nest Motel in Skaneateles? Your Stories Q&A: Why do I keep getting unwanted calls when I'm on the 'Do Not Call' list? Your Stories: Is the Shurfine grocery store in Weedsport closed for good? Your Stories Q&A: When I buy a paper bag at the grocery store, where does that money go? Your Stories Q&A: Cannabis shop to open in former Van Buren Pizza Hut Your Stories Q&A: When will this closed bridge near Cornell reopen to traffic? Your Stories: Wasp nest on utility pole has Fayetteville community buzzing Your Stories Q&A: Why is bird flu making egg prices spike but not the cost of chicken? Your Stories Q&A: What's with all the dirt near I-690 and Bear Street in Syracuse? Your Stories Q&A: After years of no construction, is Pizza Hut still returning to Cortland? Your Stories Q&A: When is CopperTop Tavern opening its new location in DeWitt? Your Stories: Change is coming to a 'dangerous' intersection in Clay Your Stories Q&A: Firehouse Subs closes another location in Central New York Your Stories Q&A: When will the new Joey's restaurant open in DeWitt?Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Daylight saving: Are we still springing forward? Will President Trump end changing clocks?
Are changing clocks in the spring still a thing? Yup. And get ready because it happens this weekend. But could this be the 'spring forward?' President Donald Trump would like it to be. Daylight saving time begins Sunday, March 9. Official start time is 2 a.m. That's when clocks 'spring forward' and reset to 3 a.m. The act of changing the clocks one hour ahead in the spring started in 1918 during World War I. Farmers pushed back and the measure was rescinded one year later. However, the act was reimplemented in 1966 when time zones were standardized. There have been numerous efforts over the last several years to end daylight saving time in Florida. The Sunshine Protection Act was first introduced in 2018. That year, and an additional three other years, the bill never made it passed the U.S. House of Representatives. Here's what you need to know about daylight saving time. Secretary of State Marcio Rubio first introduced the bill back in March 2018 when he was a Florida senator. The bill called to extend daylight saving time from eight months to the full year across the country. The U.S. House of Representatives did not pass the bill that year. Rubio and the bill's co-sponsor, Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Longboat Key, reintroduced the bill in 2019, 2021 and 2023. It was approved by the U.S. Senate, but the House of Representatives has never approved it. He seems to be in favor of ending it. In January, former Florida governor and current U.S. Sen. Rick Scott introduced the Sunshine Protection Act of 2025. "I hear from Americans constantly that they are sick and tired of changing their clocks twice a year — it's an unnecessary, decades-old practice that's more of an annoyance to families than benefit to them,' read a press release from Scott. '"I'm excited to have President Trump back in the White House and fully on board to LOCK THE CLOCK so we can get this good bill passed and make this common-sense change that will simplify and benefit the lives of American families.' Buchanan sponsored the bill again in the U.S. House. Trump took to social media to express his support of the bills. "The Republican Party will use its best efforts to eliminate Daylight Saving Time, which has a small but strong constituency, but shouldn't!" the president wrote on his social media site, Truth Social. "Daylight Saving Time is inconvenient, and very costly to our Nation." Cheryl McCloud and Jennifer Sangalang contributed to this report. Spitzer is a Trending Reporter. She can be reached at MSpitzer@ This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Change your clocks Sunday for daylight saving. Will Trump end the act?
