S.29 - Sunshine Protection Act of 2025 (119th Congress)
Summary
The Sunshine Protection Act of 2025 aims to make daylight saving time (DST) permanent across the United States. This would effectively eliminate the twice-annual clock changes that currently occur in most states. The bill repeals Section 3 of the Uniform Time Act of 1966, which allows for the temporary observance of DST.
Expected Effects
If enacted, the bill would result in Americans experiencing later sunrises and sunsets during the winter months. States would have the option to remain on standard time, as they do now. The bill also adjusts time zone designations by subtracting one hour from the current offsets.
Potential Benefits
- Potential reduction in traffic accidents due to increased visibility during commuting hours.
- Possible decrease in energy consumption, although studies are mixed.
- Simplification of timekeeping and scheduling for businesses and individuals.
- Potential boost to retail and recreation industries due to longer evening daylight hours.
- Improved alignment with children's natural sleep patterns, potentially benefiting their health and academic performance.
Most Benefited Areas:
Potential Disadvantages
- Later sunrises in winter, which could negatively impact morning routines and school start times in northern states.
- Potential disruption to agricultural schedules and outdoor work.
- Concerns about the impact on certain health conditions related to sleep patterns.
- Possible negative effects on industries that rely on early morning daylight hours.
- Increased energy consumption due to increased need for morning lighting.
Most Disadvantaged Areas:
Constitutional Alignment
The US Constitution grants Congress the power to regulate interstate commerce (Article I, Section 8, Clause 3). This power has been interpreted to allow Congress to establish uniform standards for time zones and daylight saving time. The Sunshine Protection Act falls under this purview as it seeks to standardize time across states, impacting interstate commerce and transportation. The Tenth Amendment reserves powers not delegated to the federal government to the states, but this is not violated as the bill allows states to opt out.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).