By Aaron Allen, The Seattle Medium
The U.S. House of Representatives has approved legislation that would make Daylight Saving Time permanent nationwide, moving Washington state one step closer to ending the twice-yearly clock changes that have long left many residents driving home in darkness before 5 p.m. during the winter.
The House passed the Sunshine Protection Act (H.R. 139) by a bipartisan vote of 308-117. The measure now heads to the U.S. Senate, where its future remains uncertain. If approved by the Senate and signed into law, it would clear the way for Washington to implement legislation state lawmakers approved in 2019 making Daylight Saving Time permanent.
For many Washington residents, the change would mean more daylight during the late afternoon and evening in the winter months, allowing people to leave work or school before darkness sets in. During December, the sun can set in parts of Western Washington before 4:30 p.m.
Supporters say eliminating the time change would not only simplify daily life but also improve public health, encourage outdoor activity and reduce disruptions caused by changing clocks twice each year.
U.S. Rep. Marilyn Strickland (D-Wash.) said the proposal would be especially meaningful for residents of the Pacific Northwest, where long winter nights can affect both physical and mental well-being.
“Especially in Washington state, we just think that having longer days is better for your health. It’s better for your physical activity, and we know how much we love our summers here,” said Strickland. “You wake up and it’s dark, you come home from work and it’s dark, and we know that seasonal affective disorder is real.”
She said the additional evening daylight would also give families more opportunities to exercise, spend time outdoors and participate in community activities after work or school during the winter months, helping improve overall quality of life during the region’s darkest season.
Washington’s effort to end the biannual time change has been years in the making. In 2019, the state Legislature overwhelmingly approved a bill authorizing permanent Daylight Saving Time, but federal law currently prevents states from adopting the change unless Congress acts first.
Washington is one of 19 states that have passed laws or resolutions to observe permanent Daylight Saving Time, contingent on congressional approval. The legislation approved by the House would remove that federal barrier, allowing those states to move forward. Arizona and Hawaii already remain on permanent standard time under existing federal law.
U.S. Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), who introduced companion legislation in the Senate and has long advocated for permanent Daylight Saving Time, praised the House vote and urged Senate leaders to quickly consider the measure.
“Today, the House delivered on something Americans all across the country actually want to never have to change their clocks again,” said Murray in a statement. “My state, where it is often dark earlier than 4 p.m. in the winter, has made it abundantly clear we want permanent Daylight-Saving Time. Americans from Seattle to Miami believe it’s way past time to lock the clock.”
Supporters argue that eliminating the twice-yearly clock changes would provide benefits beyond convenience.
Research has linked the annual spring time change to temporary increases in heart attacks, workplace injuries and traffic crashes as many people lose an hour of sleep and experience disruptions to their natural sleep cycles. Supporters also argue that eliminating the twice-yearly clock changes would help people maintain more consistent sleep schedules throughout the year while reducing those health risks.
“Just the act of having to change your clocks back is disruptive for people as well,” said Strickland. “The idea here is to land on a standard time that we have and avoid having to change clocks.”
While some critics have expressed concerns that permanent Daylight Saving Time would result in darker winter mornings, particularly for children waiting at school bus stops and morning commuters, Strickland believes the discussion also presents an opportunity to rethink schedules that were established decades ago as work and family routines continue to evolve.
“Societies and habits change over time… people work from home, our schedules are more flexible,” said Strickland. “Even in the conversation about how this affects school schedules, maybe there’s an opportunity to have a discussion about even how we’re scheduling school time around working families and working parents.”
She acknowledged that no policy change is perfect but believes the advantages outweigh the drawbacks.
“I don’t think this is necessarily a perfect bill because everything will have its pros and cons, but I do believe that longer days, more daylight, better sleep, and huge upsides for Washington state exist,” said Strickland.
Although the House vote marks significant progress, the legislation still faces hurdles in the Senate, where previous versions of the Sunshine Protection Act have stalled despite bipartisan support.
Still, Strickland expressed optimism that lawmakers from both parties could finally reach agreement.
“I have heard that President Trump is in fact supportive of this, so maybe throughout all this chaos there could be some bipartisan success,” says Strickland. “Senator Murray is leading the effort, and. I hope it will pass. I do believe that there are health benefits. It’s good for people’s recreation, the ability to get more sleep… and I don’t think there are downsides to that.”
If the Senate approves the measure and it is signed into law, Washington’s long-delayed 2019 legislation could finally take effect, ending the twice-yearly ritual of changing clocks and giving residents one less seasonal adjustment to worry about.
