(NEXSTAR) — We’re less than two months away from the biannual changing of the clocks. Daylight saving time will come to an end, we’ll fall back an hour and the sun will set sooner than it does now.
If some state and federal lawmakers had their way, this would be the last time our clocks would fall back.
While state-level efforts vary in their goals — some want permanent daylight saving, others want permanent standard time, and still others are calling on Congress to act — federal efforts are aimed at setting the nation’s clocks on daylight saving time permanently.
As of early September, there are four bills related to daylight saving time in Congress. Two would put the U.S. on year-round daylight saving time, while two others would allow states to decide whether they want to observe permanent daylight saving time. All four were referred to committee, and one requires a revote.
The first two bills, House and Senate versions of the Sunshine Protection Act, have received support from fellow members of Congress since being introduced in January.
Now-Secretary of State Marco Rubio introduced the Sunshine Protection Act several times while serving as a senator from Florida. The most successful effort was in 2021, when his bill received bipartisan support and passed the Senate. The legislation, as well as the companion bill introduced by Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL), would not be as fortunate in the House.
Buchanan, who has also introduced several versions of the Sunshine Protection Act, again introduced the act to lock the clocks this year. Instead of Rubio, Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) brought forth the Senate version.
More than two dozen representatives, all Republican, have cosponsored Buchanan’s bill:
Scott’s bill, meanwhile, has received bipartisan support in the Senate:
The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation held a hearing on Scott’s bill in April. It advanced out of committee, but requires a revote to comport with Senate rules, a spokesperson previously told Nexstar.
Unless there’s quick action by Congress, most of the U.S. is on track to set clocks back an hour come Nov. 2 this year.
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