# Understanding the Sunshine Protection Act of 2021

Right now, most of the United States switches between two different times twice a year. In spring, we "spring forward" to daylight saving time, and in fall, we "fall back" to standard time. This bill would eliminate that twice-yearly switch and keep the country on daylight saving time permanently year-round.

Currently, the law allows daylight saving time to run for about eight months (roughly March through November), then switches everyone back to standard time for the winter months. The Sunshine Protection Act would end this back-and-forth by making daylight saving time the permanent standard. That means if this bill became law, you'd never have to change your clocks again. The sun would rise and set later in the day throughout the entire year, so you'd have more daylight in the evenings during winter months, but it would also stay darker longer in the mornings.

The bill does include an important exception: states that have already chosen to stay on standard time year-round would be allowed to keep doing so. A few states like Hawaii and most of Arizona already don't observe daylight saving time, and they could continue with their current practice. However, states that currently switch between the two times would be locked into permanent daylight saving time unless they specifically opt out to stay on standard time instead.

The practical effect is straightforward—if you live in a state that doesn't opt out, you'd experience permanent daylight saving time with no seasonal clock changes. Your evening commute would have more daylight, but winter mornings would be noticeably darker. The bill essentially trades morning darkness in winter for extra evening light year-round.

Sunshine Protection Act of 2021

Buchanan, Vern

Sunshine Protection Act of 2021 This bill makes daylight savings time the new, permanent standard time. States with areas exempt from daylight savings time may choose the standard time for those areas.