Sunshine Protection Act: Senators bid to keep daylight savings time all year round

A group of bipartisan senators has re-introduced a bipartisan bill that aims at making Daylight Savings Time (DST) permanent, arguing that the change will bring “stability” across the US.

On 14 March, clocks will move forward an hour, which means days will get sunnier and progressively longer. It became a federal law in the US to observe DST in 1966, but some states opted out of adhering to the change.

The Sunshine Protection Act, proposed by Republican Sen Marco Rubio, calls to make DST universally permanent, repealing the temporary period for daylight savings time.

A similar, bill passed in Mr Rubio’s home state of Florida in 2018, saw the enactment of a year-round DST. However, for Florida’s change to apply, a change in the federal statute is required.

Fifteen other states: Arkansas, Alabama, California, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Louisiana, Maine, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming have passed similar laws, Mr Rubio said in a press release.

If enacted, “the country would not ‘fall back’ in November and would enjoy a full year of DST, instead of only eight months,” a bill summary says.

“The bill would simply negate the need for Americans to change their clocks twice a year,” the press release reads.

Supporters of the bill have claimed that DST can lead to several benefits for the US economy and the country, such as reducing the number of car crashes, robberies, childhood obesity, and energy usage among many others.

The idea of DST was introduced by Benjamin Franklin, one of the Founding Fathers of the US and a noted polymath, in order to save energy.

The practice became widespread on 21 March 1918 as a way to reduce the number of hours homes needed to use lighting and electricity.

“The call to end the antiquated practice of clock changing is gaining momentum throughout the nation,” Mr Rubio said in a statement.

“Studies have shown many benefits of a year-round Daylight Saving Time, which is why the Florida legislature voted to make it permanent in 2018.”

Democratic Senator Ron Wyden said the act presents “a common-sense step to provide some much-needed stability for families in Oregon and across the nation.”

He said: “Springing forward and falling back year after year only creates unnecessary confusion while harming Americans’ health and our economy.

“Making Daylight Saving permanent would give folks an hour back of sunshine during the winter months when we need it most.”