Many on this list will remember the *Sunshine Protection Act of 2021* passing the US Senate in March 2022 by unanimous consent in uncharacteristically swift fashion: https://lists.iana.org/hyperkitty/list/[email protected]/thread/GRBDSXXXWM4XXNERFNVTC4EIRTXBE6FZ/#RVBPQC2V6GQZVI2LRO4NDGTXYALQT53I
Following near-immediate blowback from a few senators — including Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas, who says his staff had not properly flagged it for his opposition — the effort ultimately stalled in the House. When sponsors of functionally identical legislation in the current Congress similarly attempted to fast-track it in October 2025, Cotton blocked the effort. https://thehill.com/homenews/nexstar_media_wire/5581335-effort-to-fast-track-permanent-daylight-saving-time-bill-thwarted-what-happens-now/ *The Hill* now reports this week that the legislation is receiving a full markup by the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and will be rolled into the *Motor Vehicle Modernization Act*, a larger transportation funding package. https://thehill.com/homenews/house/5886117-daylight-saving-time-house-republicans-markup/ https://thehill.com/policy/5889199-permanent-daylight-saving-time-legislation-gains-traction-what-would-change/ https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5890568-trump-praises-daylight-saving-bill/ President Donald Trump, who last year admitted to press that DST reform is a "50/50 issue" which "it's hard to get excited about", praised the committee's vote on Thursday, calling it "a very nice win for the Republican Party" and saying he is "going to work very hard" to see the act signed into law. https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116615022975327653 If adopted as-is, states that do not join Arizona and Hawaii in opting for the existing "standard time" exemption prior to the new law taking effect would automatically be placed into "permanent daylight time". The text does not currently carry any delay provision, nor does it allow for states to opt in or out of DST after it is adopted. https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/139/text https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/7389/text -- Tim Parenti
