H.R. 139: Sunshine Protection Act of 2025
Sponsor
Vern Buchanan
Republican · FL-16
Stop changing your clocks twice a year
Why it matters
A 1-hour clock shift hits your sleep, your commute, and your schedule twice every year. H.R. 139 would end those seasonal changes by making daylight saving time the year-round national default, while letting some states that already opted out keep a different time standard.
H.R. 139 would end the twice-a-year clock change for most Americans by making daylight saving time permanent.
Instead of springing forward and falling back every year, the bill rewrites federal time law so each U.S. time zone stays on the daylight saving version year-round. In practical terms, that means the legal clock in each zone moves 1 hour later than today's standard-time baseline.
The bill handles that change in two steps. First, it repeals the part of federal law that creates the seasonal switch. Then it updates the national time-zone definitions so the summer-style clock becomes the default all year.
For most people, the practical change is simple: no more March and November clock resets.
There is one important exception. States or parts of states that had already exempted themselves from the old daylight saving rules before this bill becomes law could choose either the new nationwide system or keep the time standard they were already using.
The bill does not create grants, fines, or a new enforcement agency. It changes the legal definition of time itself, which means schools, employers, airlines, broadcasters, and state governments would all have to run on a permanent daylight saving clock instead of switching back and forth.
Bill Progress
Latest Action · Jul 15, 2026
Passed the House, received in Senate
H.R. 139 Bill Summary
What H.R. 139 actually does.
Seasonal clock changes end
The bill removes the federal rule that now triggers the spring and fall time change. For most of the country, that means the twice-yearly switch would stop.
Daylight saving time becomes permanent
Every federal time-zone offset is moved by 1 hour, making the daylight saving version of each zone the legal year-round baseline.
Some states get a choice
States or parts of states that had already exempted themselves from the old daylight saving rules before enactment could choose either the new nationwide time standard or keep the one they were already using.
Agencies and schedules must update
Federal and state officials, transportation systems, broadcasters, schools, and employers would need to update schedules and references to match the new permanent time framework.
Who benefits from H.R. 139?
Anyone tired of changing clocks twice a year
Most Americans would stop resetting home clocks, work schedules, and seasonal routines every March and November.
Workers and families who prefer more evening daylight
A permanent daylight saving clock would keep more daylight later in the day year-round, which many people notice after work, school, or errands.
Businesses that plan across time zones
Airlines, broadcasters, logistics firms, and national employers would no longer have to account for the same U.S. seasonal clock shift every year.
States that already opted out
Places that had already exempted themselves from the old federal rules would not be forced into a single outcome right away. They would get two legal options for what time standard to use.
Who is affected by H.R. 139?
Morning commuters, parents, and schools
If daylight saving time stays in place through winter, sunrise would come later by the clock. That could mean darker mornings for school drop-offs and early work shifts.
States currently following the federal switch
They would move from a seasonal system to one permanent time standard and adjust laws, schedules, and public guidance accordingly.
States or areas with prior exemptions
They would need to decide whether to join the new nationwide daylight saving standard or keep the time setup they had before enactment.
Federal agencies and timetable-dependent industries
Agencies, transportation providers, and broadcasters would need to update official time references, scheduling systems, and public-facing materials.
What Congress Is Saying
20 legislators have weighed in on H.R. 139 — 11 Democrats, 9 Republicans.
Mr. Speaker, due to an emergency department visit, I missed votes today. Had I been present, I would have voted NAY on Roll Call No. 238, H.R. 139; YEA on Roll Call No. 239, motion to recommit H.R. 1181; and NAY on Roll Call 240, H.R. 1181.
H.R. 139 also appeared in 4 more House floor references and 20 routine cosponsor filings.
HR139 Legislative Journey
Committee Action
Jul 15, 2026
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
House: Passed 308-117
Jul 14, 2026
On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 308 - 117 (Roll no. 238). (consideration: CR H4445-4446)
+6 more actions this day
House: Committee Action
Jul 13, 2026
Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 1423 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 139, H.R. 8595, H.R. 9237 and H.R. 1181. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 139, H.R. 9237, and H.R. 1181 under a closed rule, and H.R. 8595 under a structured rule with one hour of debate and one motion to reconsider on each bill.
House: Committee Action
Jan 3, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
About the Sponsor
Vern Buchanan
Republican, Florida's 16th congressional district · 19 years in Congress
Committees: Joint Committee on Taxation, Ways and Means
View full profile →
Cosponsors (34)
This bill has 34 cosponsors: 3 Democrats, 32 Republicans. Cosponsors represent 19 states: Alabama, Arizona, California, and 16 more.
Ryan Mackenzie
Republican · PA
Brian Fitzpatrick
Republican · PA
Dale Strong
Republican · AL
Daniel Webster
Republican · FL
Warren Davidson
Republican · OH
Maria Salazar
Republican · FL
Daniel Meuser
Republican · PA
Earl Carter
Republican · GA
Stephanie Bice
Republican · OK
Eric Burlison
Republican · MO
Dan Newhouse
Republican · WA
Richard McCormick
Republican · GA
Committee Sponsors
Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
0 of 28 committee members cosponsored
No committee members have cosponsored this bill
Energy and Commerce Committee
5 of 54 committee members cosponsored
41 Republicans across these committees haven't cosponsored yet. Mobilize their constituents
What laws does H.R. 139 change?
1 changes
Sections Repealed
3 of Uniform Time Act of 1966 (15 U.S.C. 260a)
H.R. 139 Quick Facts
- Committee
- Commerce, Science, and Transportation
- Chamber
- House
- Policy
- Science, Technology, Communications
- Introduced
- Jan 3, 2025
Passed the House, received in Senate
Jul 15, 2026
Official Sources
Official bill status, text, actions, and committee referral for the Sunshine Protection Act of 2025.
This is the federal daylight saving provision the bill repeals to end the twice-yearly clock change.
This statute defines U.S. standard time zones and is the section H.R. 139 amends to make daylight saving time the year-round baseline.
Federal regulations listing official time zone boundaries, relevant because permanent daylight saving time would affect how federal time standards are applied across zones.
NIST is the federal government’s authoritative source for U.S. time standards and timekeeping information tied to legal time.
Official explanation of daylight saving time and current federal practice, useful for understanding what H.R. 139 would change.
The U.S. Naval Observatory provides official federal timekeeping services that underpin national time synchronization.
Official published version of the introduced bill text for H.R. 139 on GovInfo.
H.R. 139 Common Questions
Did H.R. 139 pass?
It passed the House, but it has not become law. H.R. 139 was sent to the Senate Commerce Committee, so the Senate still has to act.
Would H.R. 139 end the spring and fall clock change?
Yes. For most of the country, H.R. 139 would end the twice-a-year clock change and keep daylight saving time in place year-round.
Does this bill make daylight saving time permanent or standard time permanent?
Daylight saving time. The bill shifts each federal time-zone offset by 1 hour so the daylight saving version becomes the year-round legal default.
Would every state have to follow the new time rule?
Not exactly. States or parts of states that had already opted out of the old daylight saving rules before enactment could choose between 2 time standards.
What would H.R. 139 change for my daily life?
You would likely stop changing your clocks every March and November. But in winter, sunrise would come later by the clock in many places.
Does H.R. 139 create fines or penalties?
No. H.R. 139 does not create fines, criminal penalties, or a new enforcement program. It changes the national time standard instead.
Why do some states get special treatment under H.R. 139?
Because the bill carves out a choice for states or areas that had already exempted themselves from the old federal daylight saving rules before it takes effect.
Based on H.R. 139 bill text
H.R. 139 Bill Text
“To make daylight savings time permanent, and for other purposes.”
Source: U.S. Government Publishing Office
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