Status of the Sunshine Protection Act

HR 139, the Sunshine Protection Act of 2025, is currently active in the legislative process. After being introduced in the House on January 3, 2025, by Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL-16), the bill moved through the House floor on July 14, 2026. Following a debate and consideration under the provisions of House Resolution 1423, the House passed the bill with a vote of 308–117.

On July 15, 2026, the bill was received in the Senate, where it was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Proposed policy changes

The Sunshine Protection Act of 2025 seeks to establish daylight saving time as the permanent standard time throughout the United States. Under the current proposal, the biannual practice of changing clocks would be eliminated. The bill includes a provision allowing states that currently have areas exempt from daylight saving time to maintain or choose standard time for those specific regions.

Legislative record and committee involvement

The bill has garnered support from 35 cosponsors, including Rep. Brian K. Fitzpatrick (R-PA-1), Rep. Ryan Mackenzie (R-PA-7), Rep. Dale W. Strong (R-AL-5), Rep. Daniel Webster (R-FL-11), and Rep. Stephanie I. Bice (R-OK).

The legislative path for HR 139 has involved multiple committee jurisdictions, including the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. The bill’s progression was facilitated by H. Res. 1423, which provided the rules for floor consideration.

Data context and subject classification

Legislative analysis of the bill text identifies five distinct sections, with primary statutory references to 15 U.S.C. 260a and 15 U.S.C. 261. Official subject classifications for the bill include:

  • Science, Technology, and Communications

  • State and local government operations

  • Time and calendar

Sector matching analysis links the bill to several policy areas, including transportation, energy, and telecommunications, reflecting the broad impact that a change in national timekeeping standards could have on infrastructure and government operations. There are currently 18 related bills linked in the legislative graph, primarily concerning the procedural rules for the bill's consideration.