Congress Considers 'Half-Daylight Saving Time' Proposal

The Daylight Act of 2026 would set clocks forward 30 minutes, ending biannual time changes.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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A newly-introduced bill in Congress, the Daylight Act of 2026, has called for U.S. clocks to be set forward 30 minutes from their current time and locked in that position, ending the biannual time change. This so-called 'half-permanent daylight saving time' would make the U.S. one of the few countries with time zones split on the half-hour.

Why it matters

While less drastic than permanent daylight saving time, the proposal would still have significant impacts, including later sunrises in the winter and earlier sunsets in the summer. Sleep experts warn that the shift in daylight hours could negatively impact circadian rhythms and sleep cycles. The change would also create time zone differences with neighboring regions, potentially complicating business, travel, and daily life for border communities.

The details

The Daylight Act of 2026, introduced by Rep. Greg Steube (R-Fla.), would set clocks forward 30 minutes from their current position and lock them there, ending the biannual time change. In the winter, the latest sunrises would be around 7:30-8:45 a.m. in major U.S. cities, while the earliest sunsets would be around 4:40-6:05 p.m. In the summer, the earliest sunrises would be around 4:35-6:05 a.m. and the latest sunsets around 7:30-8:55 p.m.

  • The Daylight Act of 2026 was introduced in Congress.
  • If passed, the clocks would be set forward 30 minutes and locked in that position, ending the biannual time change.

The players

Rep. Greg Steube

A Republican Congressman from Florida who introduced the Daylight Act of 2026.

Dr. Alaina Tiani

A clinical health psychologist who specializes in behavioral sleep medicine at the Cleveland Clinic's Sleep Disorder Center.

Dr. Karin Johnson

A spokesperson for the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) and co-chair of the Coalition for Permanent Standard Time.

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What they’re saying

“Medically, a half hour delay would be less harmful than a full hour delay of permanent daylight saving time and would have the benefit of ending the biannual change.”

— Dr. Karin Johnson, Spokesperson for the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) and co-chair of the Coalition for Permanent Standard Time (Nexstar)

“Morning sunlight is important for our melatonin system, which impacts our sleep.”

— Dr. Alaina Tiani, Clinical health psychologist who specializes in behavioral sleep medicine at the Cleveland Clinic's Sleep Disorder Center (Nexstar)

What’s next

If the Daylight Act of 2026 is passed by Congress, the clocks would be set forward 30 minutes and locked in that position, ending the biannual time change.

The takeaway

The proposal for 'half-daylight saving time' aims to find a middle ground between permanent standard time and full daylight saving time, but sleep experts warn it could still disrupt circadian rhythms and create logistical challenges, especially for border communities.