With the annual clock changes soon approaching, we are well-accustomed by now to discussion picking back up around the typical proposals for "permanent daylight time" and "permanent standard time".
But an alternative proposal of "permanent half-daylight time" has now been put forth in the US House of Representatives. For example, "Eastern time would then be 4.5 hours behind UTC, instead of five." Republican representative Greg Steube, who represents the Sarasota area in southwest Florida's 17th district, introduced HR 7378 (the "Daylight Act of 2026") on 4 February 2026. The bill was referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce but, like most such proposals, has not yet moved forward. As presently drafted, the bill provides that the changes would take effect only 90 days after enactment. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2026/02/19/daylight-act-of-2026-proposing-half-daylight-saving-time/88760725007/ https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/7378/text https://www.congress.gov/119/bills/hr7378/BILLS-119hr7378ih.pdf -- Tim Parenti
