The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill on Wednesday that would make daylight saving time permanent across the country, ending the semi-annual practice of setting clocks forward in spring and back in fall. The legislation, if signed into law, would establish a fixed time standard nationwide and eliminate the disruption millions of Americans experience twice each year.

The move renews a push that has gained bipartisan support in recent years. Advocates argue that permanent daylight saving time would benefit public health, reduce energy consumption, and provide more evening daylight for workers and families. Opponents, including some scientists and sleep researchers, have argued that permanent standard time would be a healthier choice, as morning light plays a key role in regulating human circadian rhythms.

The bill's passage in the House marks a significant legislative step, though the measure still faces the Senate, where similar efforts have stalled in the past. A comparable bill, the Sunshine Protection Act, passed the Senate unanimously in 2022 but never received a House vote at that time, ultimately dying before becoming law.

The debate over clock-changing has drawn wide public interest, with polls consistently showing that a majority of Americans prefer not to change their clocks twice a year, even if there is less consensus on which time standard — daylight saving or standard — should be made permanent. Business groups have generally favored extended daylight hours in the evening, citing benefits for retail and outdoor industries.

The bill's next steps in the Senate will determine whether the United States ultimately locks in a single time standard. If enacted, the change would represent the most significant alteration to U.S. timekeeping policy in decades.