HR 7378 - Daylight Act of 2026

Summary

The Daylight Act of 2026 is a bill introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives that would amend the existing Calder Act to permanently adjust American time zones. The key provisions of the bill are:

1. Permanent Time Adjustment: The bill would permanently shift all U.S. time zones 30 minutes earlier. For example, the Eastern Time Zone would shift from UTC-4 to UTC-3.5.

2. Repeal of Daylight Saving Time: The bill would repeal Section 3 of the Uniform Time Act of 1966, effectively eliminating the biannual clock changes associated with daylight saving time.

Purpose and Intent

The stated purpose of the Daylight Act is to permanently adjust American time to provide more daylight hours for the majority of the population. By shifting time zones earlier, the bill aims to align daylight hours more closely with typical work and school schedules.

Affected Entities

The bill would impact all U.S. states and territories by permanently changing their official time zone offsets from Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). This would affect individual citizens, businesses, transportation schedules, and various institutions that rely on synchronized timekeeping.

Timeline and Procedure

The bill specifies that the changes would take effect 90 days after the date of enactment. This would provide a brief transition period for individuals and organizations to adjust to the new time zones.

Overall, the Daylight Act of 2026 represents a significant shift in U.S. timekeeping practices, potentially impacting millions of people and institutions across the country. Its stated goal is to better align daylight hours with everyday schedules, though the full effects and implications remain to be seen.