House Passes Bill Making Daylight Saving Time Permanent: How CA's Reps Voted

Legislation that could permanently set California's clocks to daylight saving time and end twice-a-year clock changes has cleared the U.S. House.

The House voted 308-117 Tuesday to pass the Sunshine Protection Act, which would make daylight saving time permanent nationwide. States could opt out and remain on standard time if their legislatures act before the measure takes effect.

Of the 308 total representatives that voted to pass the Sunshine Protection Act, 114 were Democrats and 193 were Republicans.

Of the 117 total representatives that voted against the act, 22 were Republican and 95 were Democrats.

Six representatives did not enter a vote, according to the State Clerk.

To get a run-down on how California's representatives voted by name, visit the State Clerk's website.

There were nine California lawmakers - all Democrats who voted against the bill. They are:

• Nanette Diaz Barragán
• Judy Chu
• Mark DeSaulnier
• Sydney Kamlager-Dove
• Sam T. Liccardo

• Ted Lieu
• Zoe Lofgren
• Mark Takano

What Happens Now?

The bill still needs Senate approval before it could go to President Donald Trump. It is unclear whether the Senate will take it up.

The White House supports the proposal, calling it a popular, common-sense change. Presidential advisers are expected to recommend that Trump sign it if it reaches his desk.

Unless Congress and the president change the law before then, clocks will be turned back one hour on Nov. 1.

Sunsets And Sunrises In CA

Making daylight saving time permanent would mean later sunsets throughout the year but also later winter sunrises.

If year-round daylight saving time is adopted in California, winter sunsets would occur an hour later than they do under standard time. Sunrise also would come an hour later, leaving more people traveling to work and school before daylight.

The earliest sunset of the year usually falls around Dec. 7. Under standard time, that will be around 4:43 p.m. in California in 2026. Under permanent daylight saving time, sunset would move to around 5:43 p.m.

The latest sunrise of the year occurs sometime between Jan. 3 and Jan. 5. Under standard time, that’s around 6:57 a.m. in California. Under permanent daylight saving time, the sun wouldn’t come up until about 7:57 a.m.

Pros And Cons

California voters approved Proposition 7 in 2018, authorizing the state legislature to pursue year-round daylight saving time if Congress permits it. That vote passed overwhelmingly statewide and influenced several California Democrats and Republicans in Congress to support federal action, including former Gov. Jerry Brown.

A newer California state proposal — California Senate Bill 51 — introduced in the 2023–2024 session would repeal daylight savings time, which supporters said is “disruptive to health, safety, and education.” The state bill was introduced into the California Senate by Sen. Roger Niello (R-Sacramento) and favors placing the Golden State permanently on standard time and ending daylight saving time completely.

Barragán, the Democratic lawmaker from San Pedro who opposes making daylight savings time permanent, has noted that the American Medical Association favors permanent standard time for health reasons.

"Like many Americans, I too am tired of changing our clocks twice a year. Parents hate it. Workers hate it. Our bodies hate it, but making daylight savings time permanent poses health and safety issues. Doctors, neurologists, sleep, scientists, and major medical organizations have warned Congress that permanent daylight savings time would hurt public health and public safety. The American Medical Association has called for permanent standard time instead because standard time better aligns with the human body's, natural circadian rhythm," she said. "The American Academy of Sleep Medicine agrees. Why? Because our bodies are built to wake up with morning light... Sleep experts have linked the shift to daylight savings time with higher risk of heart attacks, strokes, depression, and car crashes."

Millions would wake up to darkness after 8 a.m. for three months of the year, she added.

" We have tried this before. Most recently, in 1974, during the energy crisis, the United States experimented with permanent daylight savings time. Support for it collapsed once Americans experienced those dark winter mornings firsthand,"she said. "Communities and workplaces had to adjust schedules because people were starting their day in darkness. Children were waiting for school buses in pitch black streets. In Florida alone, 8 children were killed in traffic accidents in the weeks after the change. That's not auto safety."

Supporters say Americans are tired of changing their clocks and would benefit from more usable daylight after work and school.

Rep. Gus Bilirakis, a Florida Republican, said it is time to “ditch the switch,” arguing that the twice-a-year changes cause needless disruption and that longer evenings would give families more time outdoors while supporting businesses.

Critics say the trade-off would be darker and potentially more dangerous winter mornings, when children are waiting for school buses and commuters are heading to work.

“Millions of Americans will wake up during the winter months in complete darkness with the sun not rising until long after people get up and travel to school or work or have to go about their days,” Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon, a Pennsylvania Democrat, said during the House debate.

Rep. Jim McGovern, a Massachusetts Democrat, voted for the measure but questioned whether it should be a priority when families are struggling with housing, food, utility and health care costs.

What Polls Show

Americans appear to favor the later-evening option when asked to choose between permanent daylight saving time and permanent standard time.

An Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll conducted in 2025 found that 56 percent of adults preferred permanent daylight saving time, with less morning light and more evening light. About 4 in 10 preferred permanent standard time, with earlier sunrises and sunsets.

Congress has debated ending the clock changes for years. The Senate passed a permanent daylight saving time bill in 2022, but the measure stalled in the House.

Federal law currently allows states to remain on standard time throughout the year, but states cannot independently adopt permanent daylight saving time. Arizona and Hawaii generally do not observe daylight saving time.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.