On 7/28/2026 10:14 AM, Brooks Harris wrote:
It says "A competing House measure, introduced in early July, would
lock the clock on standard time. ". Which leads to:
H.R.9638 - Sunshine for Our Kids Act of 2026
https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/9638/text
How might this work? How does the legal process relate to H.R. 139?
Can both bills pass, or has H.R. 139 preempted H.R.9638?
H.R. 9638 was introduced as a last minute alternate by a representative
who wanted permanent standard time. She failed to get H.R. 139 amended
before it left committee. Technically H.R. 9638 (and H.R.7389 "Motor
Vehicle Modernization Act of 2026" which was modified in committee to
include the H.R. 139 changes) are both still live legislation. Each will
die on January 3rd, 2027, if congress does not act on that particular
version.
So far H.R. 139 has progressed the furthest ... passed the house on a
vote, sent to the senate, assigned to a committee. It may or may not get
addressed by the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. If
it does pass the committee (with or without amendments) it may or may
not get addressed on the senate floor. If it passes the senate floor
unchanged from when it was passed in the house it goes to the president
for a signature. If there are any changes (such as adding an effective
date) the differences would need to be worked out with the house.
(It's not clear to me that H.R.9638 would actually "lock the clock on
standard time", because it seems to give states the option to continue
DST. Is that how you read it?)
You read correctly. H.R. 9638 would allow states the option of remaining
on standard time with DST, changing to standard time without DST or
changing to "permanent DST". It would create a patchwork quilt of
states, potentially with some states with a lower offset than a state to
the east or two hour time zone changes crossing a single boundary line
or other complications.
As previously stated, H.R. 139 needs work - an effective date and better
handling of the states / territories not currently observing DST. But it
is not as messy as H.R. 9638.
