The U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee on Thursday approved the "Sunlight Protection Act," which would make daylight saving time permanent for all states. President Donald Trump voiced strong support for the bipartisan initiative. However, states could opt out and remain on standard time. The move brings Washington state and 18 other states closer to ending the annual clock changes that they have been trying, without success, to overcome for years.
Washington state passed a law in 2019 to adopt permanent daylight saving time under Governor Jay Inslee, but Congressional approval was required for it to take effect. Inslee, who served as governor from 2013 to 2025, signed that bill and was a key driver of the push in the state. Under federal law, however, states may only establish permanent standard time on their own, so Congress must authorize a shift to permanent daylight saving time. Now that the federal bill has cleared a key committee, residents in the region have renewed hope that the long campaign may succeed. Earlier efforts to switch to permanent standard time were unpopular, and lawmakers are betting that sunnier evenings will appeal to most people.
Switching to permanent daylight saving time would mean more light in the evenings but darker mornings, especially in winter. Experts are divided: doctors from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine warn that changing the clock twice a year increases the risk of cardiovascular events and accidents, and that permanent daylight saving time could disrupt circadian rhythms. Residents of eastern Washington would be particularly affected, where the climate is more continental with harsh winters. Unlike Seattle and the West Coast with their mild maritime climate, in the eastern part of the state—such as Spokane—winter sunrises could shift to 8:30–9:00 a.m., resulting in dark mornings when children head to school or people start work. Additionally, in this agricultural region farmers traditionally rely on natural light, making late sunrises especially problematic.
Despite the positive signal from the committee, the bill’s path remains rocky. A similar measure passed the Senate in 2022 but stalled in the House. This year a new bill has been filed in the Senate with support from Washington Democrat Patty Murray, but it has not yet cleared committee. If Congress approves the initiative and the president signs it, Americans would leave seasonal clock changes behind for good.
Based on: Permanent daylight saving time in WA takes one step further