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HR 9638

Sunshine for Our Kids Act of 2026

119th Congress Introduced by Pat Harrigan and 1 co-sponsor

End daylight saving by making standard time year-round nationwide, with a state option to elect DST under defined conditions.

Introduced in House
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HR 9638

Overview

Sunshine for Our Kids Act of 2026 (HR 9638) seeks to make standard time permanent across the United States by repealing daylight saving time (DST) for most locations, with a targeted option for states to elect to observe DST if certain conditions are met. The bill would implement a nationwide shift toward year-round standard time, with a mechanism for states to opt into observing DST again, under specified rules. It becomes effective on the first Sunday of November after enactment.

Main purpose and intent

  • Eliminate the annual time changes associated with DST by moving to year-round standard time.
  • Provide a legal framework for states to elect to observe DST if they choose, while otherwise keeping standard time permanently in place.
  • Align the federal time-keeping framework with the proposed permanent standard time, subject to state-level elections in some circumstances.

Key provisions and changes

  • Repeal of daylight saving time prompts:
    • Section 3 of the Uniform Time Act of 1966 (15 U.S.C. 260a) is repealed.
  • State election to observe daylight saving time:
    • Amends the Calder Act (Act of March 19, 1918, 15 U.S.C. 261) to create an explicit path for states to choose DST under defined conditions.
    • Subsection (b) is inserted and redesignates existing subsections to accommodate new DST election rules.
    • For states in one time zone:
    • A state may pass a law to advance standard time by 1 hour year-round (or for a portion of the year), but the entire state and all political subdivisions must observe the same standard time.
    • For states in more than one time zone:
    • A state may pass a law to advance the entire state’s standard time by 1 hour (year-round or partially), or to advance only the portion of the state lying within any specific time zone.
  • Definitions:
    • The term “State” retains its defined meaning from the Uniform Time Act of 1966.
  • Conforming amendment:
    • Amends the second sentence of 15 U.S.C. 261(a) to reflect the new framework, replacing the previous “Except as provided in section 3(a) of the Uniform Time Act of 1966” with “Except as provided in subsection (b).”
  • Effective date:
    • The amendments take effect on the first Sunday of November after enactment.

Who would be affected

  • All states and their political subdivisions, with universal impact on daily timekeeping and scheduling practices.
  • States that currently observe DST or consider changes to their time practices would operate under the new framework, including any required legislative actions to opt into DST for certain areas or the entire state.
  • Sectors relying on time standardization (transportation, broadcasting, commerce, healthcare, education, and public safety) would undergo administrative adjustments to align with the permanent standard time model, plus any DST opt-in provisions.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Legislative process:
    • Introduced and referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce (as of 2026-07-09).
    • Co-sponsors include Pat Harrigan and Mary Gay Scanlon.
  • Effective date timing:
    • Takes effect on the first Sunday of November following enactment, aligning the shift with a standard annual milestone similar to current DST transition dates.
  • Potential implementation considerations:
    • States would need to pass laws to elect DST under the new framework where allowed (single-time-zone states vs. multi-time-zone states).
    • Federal and industry stakeholders would need to adjust scheduling, technology systems, and public communications to reflect the year-round standard time regime, or the DST election where applicable.

Summary

The Sunshine for Our Kids Act of 2026 seeks to end the routine clock changes by making standard time permanent, while preserving a mechanism for states to elect DST under specified conditions. It repeals part of the federal DST framework, introduces state-level election provisions for DST, and sets an effective date tied to the annual clock-change cycle. The bill would impact all states and industries that rely on synchronized timekeeping, requiring legislative and administrative actions to implement the new standard across the country.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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