Sunshine for Our Kids Act of 2026
- Bill Number
- H.R. 9638
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-07-09: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-11T14:25:04Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose This legislation establishes permanent standard time nationwide while allowing states the option to observe daylight saving time.
Key Provisions
- Repeals the federal requirement for daylight saving time under the Uniform Time Act of 1966.
- Amends the Calder Act to let states enact laws advancing their standard time by one hour, either year-round or seasonally.
- Requires uniform observance across an entire state or within each time zone for states spanning multiple zones.
- Sets the effective date as the first Sunday in November following enactment.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Removes the mandatory twice-yearly clock changes previously required by federal statute.
- Shifts authority for observing daylight saving time from a uniform federal rule to individual state decisions.
- Updates cross-references in related time laws to reflect the new state-option framework.
Potential Impacts
- Gives states greater flexibility in setting time observance, which could affect daily schedules, energy use, and public safety for residents.
- May reduce federal coordination on time standards, impacting agencies that rely on uniform national time for scheduling or data.
- Could influence cross-state travel, commerce, and broadcasting without direct effects on international relations.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- State legislatures and governors, who gain authority to decide on time observance.
- Citizens and businesses, whose routines may change based on state choices.
- Federal agencies involved in timekeeping, transportation, and communications.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Strengthens state-level decision-making on time policy, consistent with principles of federalism.
- Preserves the federal role in defining standard time zones while removing the prior nationwide daylight saving mandate.
- Could create variations in time observance between states, potentially affecting interstate activities.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Scanlon, Mary Gay [D-PA-5]
Cosponsors (1)
Recent Actions
- 2026-07-09: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- 2026-07-09: Introduced in House
- 2026-07-09: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Sunshine for Our Kids Act of 2026 — issued 2026-07-09 — PDF (3 pages)