The Sunshine State wants more year-round for entire U.S.
The idea of keeping the extra-long days brought on by Daylight Saving Time is again becoming a topic of Congress, thanks to Georgia’s southern neighbor of Florida.
The Sunshine State and its elected officials are leading the charge this year to bring about an end to the fast-forwarding and fall-backing that Americans go through twice a year. Two pieces of legislation were introduced this year by Floridian congressional members. However, there is a shadow over both legislative items and they remain in committee.
Senate Resolution 29 (SR 29), called the Sunshine Protection Act of 2025, was introduced by Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla). It’s no surprise that Scott signed the state legislation when he was governor to send the original request to Congress. The bill would make Daylight Savings Time permanent for any state wishing to keep the longer days year-round.
It was read twice before handed it off to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation in early January. House Resolution 139 (HR 139), which also makes Daylight Saving Time permanent, was read twice and given to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce at about the same time.
Deja Vu
Various states considered making Daylight Saving Time permanent for years, but Florida decided to try to lock the clock down in 2018. The state assembly passed legislation to make daylight savings time permanent throughout the state.
The problem was that such a move required congressional approval. The U.S. Senate passed it but the House put it aside and the change never made it to President Joe Biden’s desk. The resolution hasn’t moved even though it has been introduced every year since 2021.
The original legislation submitted by Florida would only affect that state. The bills considered now would affect the entire U.S. with exemptions for states and areas that didn’t want to participate.
Currently, two states don’t participate in moving clocks forward in the spring to catch extra rays into the evening Hawaii and Arizona remain on standard time. However, within Arizona, the Navajo Nation does recognize the clock switch. Territories also don’t move clocks away from standard time. That includes those in American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
It’s Not a Consensus
Who doesn’t want more sunshine? Apparently, many people. Commenters on social media are divided about doing away with standard time and making Daylight Saving Time permanent.
They state that standard time is a healthier choice for people as it aligns with the natural clock of the sun and nature. It helps maintain natural biorhythms in humans. They contend that daylight savings time conflicts with natural biorhythms, leading to things like heart attacks and strokes.
Daylight Saving Time is, however, good for the economy. Scott states on his website that 43 percent of employees feel more productive during the summer and that changing the clock disrupts agriculture and business. He states economic activity drops 2.2 to 4.9 percent after the winter clock change.
History of Daylight Saving Time
Daylight Saving Time goes back to the First World War in 1914 as a way to save energy. It was always informal as it was much later when the Uniform Time Act of 1966 standardized changing the clock. Currently, that happens on the second Sunday in March and the first Sunday in November.
Melody Dareing is a freelance writer working for publications in the U.S., Canada, the UK, and Germany. She is the former news director of Adelphia Channel 4 and WBHF Radio.