COLUMBUS — With the end of daylight saving time weeks away, Ohioans are watching Washington to see whether they will still set their clocks back on Nov. 1 — and Ohio Sen. Bernie Moreno could play a pivotal role in the outcome.
The Sunshine Protection Act, which would make daylight saving time permanent, passed the U.S. House in a bipartisan 308-117 vote on July 14. The bill is now pending before the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, where Moreno serves as one of 28 senators. The committee could decide whether to advance the measure to the full Senate.
Timekeeping and daylight saving legislation fall squarely within the committee’s jurisdiction, and the panel has held hearings on ending the twice-a-year clock change in the past. Even if the committee advances the bill, it would still need approval from both chambers of Congress and the president’s signature to become law.
Unless Congress acts before Nov. 1, Ohioans will turn their clocks back one hour when daylight saving time ends. Permanent daylight saving time would bring later winter sunsets to Ohio — but also push winter sunrises nearly an hour later, a trade-off that has kept the debate alive for years.
Supporters of making daylight saving time permanent argue the clock changes disrupt sleep, harm health and cost the economy, while critics say permanent daylight time would send children to school and adults to work in darkness during winter mornings.
The committee’s next steps were unclear as of Friday, Sept. 25. NewsForce247 will continue following the bill’s progress in the Senate.
