H.R. 1279House118th Congress (2023-2025)In Committee

Sunshine Protection Act of 2023

AI-Generated Summary

Updated January 20, 2026 at 4:14 AM UTC

The Sunshine Protection Act of 2023 would make daylight‑saving time permanent throughout the United States. It repeals the temporary‑period provision of the Uniform Time Act and changes the way standard time is calculated, effectively keeping the clocks one hour ahead year‑round. The bill also lets states that previously opted out of daylight‑saving time keep their existing standard‑time rules if they choose.

Key Provisions

Repeals Section 3 of the Uniform Time Act of 1966, removing the requirement to revert to standard time each winter.
Amends the 1918 Calder Act to shift the hour offsets, aligning the legal definition of standard time with permanent daylight‑saving time.
Provides a state exemption allowing any state or area that had previously exempted itself from the Uniform Time Act to retain its prior standard‑time arrangement or adopt the new permanent daylight‑saving schedule.

Legislative Activity

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3 earlier actions

HouseDischarge Latest Action

Motion to Discharge Committee filed by Mr. Steube. Petition No: 118-19. (Discharge petition text with signatures.)

November 14, 2024

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

March 1, 2023

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Energy and Commerce Committee

March 1, 2023

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Innovation, Data, and Commerce.

Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade Subcommittee

March 10, 2023

HouseDischarge

Motion to Discharge Committee filed by Mr. Steube. Petition No: 118-19. (Discharge petition text with signatures.)

November 14, 2024

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued March 1, 2023

118th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 1279

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

March 1, 2023

Mr. Buchanan (for himself, Mr. Posey, Mr. Mills, Mr. Mast, Mrs. Luna, Mr. Rutherford, Ms. Salazar, Mr. Waltz, Mr. Mooney, Mr. Comer, Mr. Strong, Ms. Mace, Mr. Carl, and Mr. Burchett) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

A BILL

To make daylight savings time permanent, and for other purposes.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Sunshine Protection Act of 2023.

Making daylight savings time permanent

(a)

Repeal of temporary period for daylight savings time

Section 3 of the Uniform Time Act of 1966 (15 U.S.C. 260a) is hereby repealed.

(b)

Advancement of standard time

(1)

In general

The second sentence of subsection (a) of section 1 of the Act of March 19, 1918 (commonly known as the Calder Act) (15 U.S.C. 261), is amended—

(A)

by striking 4 hours and inserting 3 hours;

(B)

by striking 5 hours and inserting 4 hours;

(C)

by striking 6 hours and inserting 5 hours;

(D)

by striking 7 hours and inserting 6 hours;

(E)

by striking 8 hours and inserting by 7 hours;

(F)

by striking 9 hours and inserting 8 hours;

(G)

by striking 10 hours; and inserting 9 hours;;

(H)

by striking 11 hours and inserting 10 hours; and

(I)

by striking 10 hours. and inserting 11 hours..

(2)

State exemption

Such section is further amended by—

(A)

redesignating subsection (b) as subsection (c); and

(B)

inserting after subsection (a) the following:

(b)

Standard time for certain States and areas

The standard time for a State that has exempted itself from the provisions of section 3(a) of the Uniform Time Act of 1966 (15 U.S.C. 260a(a)), as in effect on the day before the date of the enactment of the Sunshine Protection Act of 2023, pursuant to such section, or an area of a State that has exempted such area from such provisions pursuant to such section, shall be, as such State considers appropriate—

(1)

the standard time for such State or area, as the case may be, pursuant to subsection (a) of this section; or

(2)

the standard time for such State or area, as the case may be, pursuant to subsection (a) of this section as it was in effect on the day before the date of the enactment of the Sunshine Protection Act of 2023.

(3)

Conforming amendment

Such section is further amended, in the second sentence of subsection (a), by striking Except as provided in section 3(a) of the Uniform Time Act of 1966 (15 U.S.C. 260a), and inserting Except as provided in subsection (b),.