Congressional Proposal to Make Daylight Saving Time Permanent Raises Concerns Over Late Winter Sunrises
A House vote to adopt year-round daylight saving time would push winter sunrises in California and other U.S. cities to after 8 a.m., prompting debate over safety and daily routines.
If Congress were to enact permanent daylight saving time, winter sunrise times would shift later across the United States. In Los Angeles, the latest sunrise would occur at 8:00 a.m., while Sacramento and San Francisco would see sunrise at 8:24 a.m. and 8:25 a.m., respectively. The northernmost California city of Crescent City would experience sunrise at 8:44 a.m., and locations such as Bismarck, North Dakota, and Glacier National Park, Montana, could see sunrise after 9:20 a.m.
The change would also affect other regions: Miami’s winter sunrise would move to 8:09 a.m., New York City to 8:20 a.m., and Seattle to 8:58 a.m. While mornings would be darker, evenings would gain additional daylight, with Los Angeles’ sunset moving from about 4:44 p.m. to roughly 5:44 p.m. in late November under the permanent schedule.
The proposal gained bipartisan support in the House, passing 308-117. Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) described the twice-annual clock changes as “an unnecessary, decades-old practice” and said an extra evening hour would benefit families. However, some lawmakers oppose the measure, citing concerns about reduced morning light. Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) warned that later winter sunrises could “deprive Americans of morning sunshine that’s essential for our safety and well-being.”
California voters approved Proposition 7 in 2018, authorizing the state legislature to adopt year-round daylight saving time if federal law permits. Current federal statutes prohibit states from implementing permanent daylight saving time without congressional action. Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) noted that Californians have already voted to lock the clock and urged Congress to act.
Other jurisdictions have taken different approaches. British Columbia moved to permanent daylight saving time in 2023, resulting in Vancouver’s latest sunrise at 9:07 a.m. and earlier winter sunsets. Mexico ended daylight saving time in most of the country in 2022, remaining on standard time year-round.
The debate reflects a broader discussion about the balance between evening daylight and morning light, with implications for school schedules, public safety, and daily activities.