Daylight Saving Time Debate Reignites as Permanent Change Looms

As of October 2025, the debate over daylight saving time is once again in the spotlight. In 2022, the U.S. Senate passed the Sunshine Protection Act, which aimed to make daylight saving time permanent. However, the bill was not voted on by the House of Representatives and later expired.

The practice of daylight saving time, where clocks are set forward an hour in the spring and back an hour in the fall, has a long and contentious history. It was first instituted by Germany in 1916 during World War I, as an effort to conserve fuel. The U.S. adopted the practice in 1918, but it was a hotly contested idea and was abolished after the war.

Over the years, daylight saving time has faced opposition from various industries, including the movie industry, which argued that people were less likely to go to dark theaters when it was bright outside. Farmers have also been among the biggest opponents. On the other hand, supporters have included the sports and recreation industries, who saw benefits in later start times for games.

Despite the ongoing debate, the future of daylight saving time remains uncertain. As of October 2025, the Sunshine Protection Act has been refiled in the Senate, and a companion bill has been introduced in the House. Whether these efforts will succeed in making daylight saving time permanent remains to be seen.