Bill 119 HR 139, also known as the Sunshine Protection Act, aims to make daylight savings time permanent across the United States. This means that the clocks would not "fall back" in the fall and "spring forward" in the spring as they currently do. The bill was introduced in the House of Representatives on January 3, 2019 by Representative Vern Buchanan from Florida.
The main purpose of the bill is to provide more daylight in the evenings, which proponents argue can have various benefits such as reducing energy consumption, promoting outdoor activities, and improving public health by reducing the risk of seasonal depression. The bill also aims to reduce the disruption and confusion caused by changing the clocks twice a year.
If passed, the bill would require states that currently observe daylight savings time to continue doing so year-round. States that currently do not observe daylight savings time, such as Arizona and Hawaii, would not be affected by the bill.
The bill has received bipartisan support, with proponents arguing that making daylight savings time permanent would have positive effects on the economy, public safety, and overall well-being. However, opponents have raised concerns about potential negative impacts, such as increased energy consumption in the mornings and disruptions to certain industries that rely on the current time change schedule.
As of now, the bill is still in the early stages of the legislative process and has not yet been voted on by the full House of Representatives. It remains to be seen whether the Sunshine Protection Act will ultimately become law and make daylight savings time permanent for all Americans.