The House voted to make Daylight Saving Time permanent. Here’s what’s next
Senate Leaders Weigh Next Steps After House Passes Permanent Daylight Saving Time
The House voted to make Daylight – The United States House of Representatives delivered a decisive bipartisan vote on Tuesday, approving legislation that would establish year-round Daylight Saving Time nationwide. Despite this clear signal from the House, the path forward remains uncertain as Senate Republican leadership has yet to commit to bringing the measure to a floor vote. The proposed legislation, commonly referred to as the “Sunshine Protection Act,” now faces scrutiny from Senate leaders who have historically expressed reservations about permanently shifting the nation’s clocks.
Thune Signals Openness to Future Vote
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, representing South Dakota, offered a measured response when questioned by reporters on Wednesday. While the senator has previously voiced opposition to adopting permanent Daylight Saving Time as the default, he declined to eliminate the possibility of scheduling a floor vote on the House-passed bill. Thune emphasized that the legislation preserves flexibility for individual states.
“I think the main concern is that there’s optionality for states, and my understanding is that’s in the House bill. I just don’t think we want a mandate and that was tried once before and repealed,” Thune explained.
The House version of the bill permits states to maintain permanent standard time rather than switching to Daylight Saving Time, provided they make that choice before the new system takes effect. Currently, Hawaii, most of Arizona, and several U.S. territories already operate on permanent standard time. Thune noted that Senate Republicans are actively considering the proposal, with members on both sides of the issue expressing interest.
“But you know, we’re looking at it. You know, the House had a big vote. There’s a lot of interest in it from members on our side over here. Some for, some against,” Thune stated.
When pressed about whether the bill could secure the 60 votes needed to overcome a filibuster, Thune remained noncommittal. He acknowledged that the Senate has not yet thoroughly examined this particular question. Thune also highlighted his personal connection to the issue, noting that he hails from a northern climate and had previously opposed a similar measure when it came before the Senate Commerce committee last April.
Cotton’s Stance Creates Hurdles
Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas stands as one of the most vocal opponents of year-round Daylight Saving Time. His steadfast resistance has diminished expectations that the Senate will quickly approve the legislation through unanimous consent—a process requiring all 100 senators to agree to an expedited vote. Cotton’s firm position means Republican leaders may hesitate to dedicate valuable floor time to a measure he is likely to filibuster.
The Arkansas senator has been explicit about his concerns, warning that later sunrises could put children at risk during their morning commutes to school. Cotton and other critics argue that the change would negatively impact workers in construction, agriculture, and manufacturing who would need to begin their shifts in darkness. In certain regions of the country, sunrise does not occur until after 9 a.m. during Daylight Saving Time, intensifying these concerns.
Historical Precedents Shape the Debate
This is not the first time Congress has attempted to make Daylight Saving Time permanent. During the 1970s energy crisis, lawmakers passed similar legislation but quickly reversed course when public opposition grew. More recently, in 2022, senators approved a version of the Daylight Saving Time bill through swift action on the floor without any objections. However, the measure never received a House floor vote.
Cotton subsequently revealed that he would have blocked that 2022 effort and pledged to object to any future attempts to pass similar legislation quickly. In 2025, a bipartisan coalition of senators tried again to secure unanimous consent for year-round Daylight Saving Time, but Cotton’s opposition once again prevented the measure from advancing.
Asked if it can get the necessary 60 votes to break a filibuster, Thune said that “remains to be seen.” He added “that’s not an issue that we’ve really probed much yet.”
As the Senate considers its next move, the outcome will depend on whether Republican leaders can navigate Cotton’s opposition while addressing the concerns of senators who support the change. The House vote has demonstrated strong support, but translating that momentum into Senate action remains an open question.