Congress takes up daylight saving time bill
Changing the clocks twice a year could soon be a thing of the past.
The U.S. House of Representatives is expected to vote next week on legislation that would make daylight saving time permanent, ending the twice-yearly ritual of "springing forward" and "falling back" for millions of Americans.
The Sunshine Protection Act advanced out of committee in a 48-1 vote and has the backing of President Donald Trump, who recently called seasonal clock changes a "ridiculous, twice-yearly production." A similar proposal sailed through the Senate in 2022 but never became law.
Even if the legislation passes, in order to become law, it will also have be approved by the U.S. Senate.
What is daylight saving time?
Daylight saving time is the period between March and November when most Americans set their clocks ahead by one hour to extend daylight later into the evening.
Clocks move forward one hour each spring, often referred to as "springing forward," and return to standard time each fall when Americans "fall back." The switch is designed to provide more daylight in the evening during the warmer months and more daylight in the morning during the winter.
Do all states observe daylight saving time?
No. Hawaii and most of Arizona, for instance, do not observe daylight saving time, though most states do.
Arizona doesn't observe it because of its desert climate. In an interview with Arizona State University, history professor Calvin Schermerhorn said that not observing daylight saving time in the state is the "more eco-friendly" option.
"Simply put, it's more eco-friendly in terms of power usage to start the day earlier rather than later. Businesses, schools and vehicles require more energy consumption to air-condition spaces," Schermerhorn said.
The Navajo Nation, which spans parts of Arizona, Utah and New Mexico, does participate in daylight saving time.
U.S. territories American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands also do not participate in daylight saving time.
USA TODAY's Saleen Martin contributed to this report.
Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at fernando.cervantes@usatodayco.com and follow him on X @fern_cerv_.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Congress takes up daylight saving time bill
Reporting by Fernando Cervantes Jr., USA TODAY / USA TODAY
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This story was originally published July 10, 2026 at 6:48 PM.