Permanent Daylight Saving Time Nears for Montana

I try to stay out of politics as much as I can, but there's one issue that seems to come up every year because it affects nearly all of us in Montana.

It really doesn't matter what you do for a living. It doesn't matter if you're rich or poor, young or old. Whether you have a job or you're retired. Almost everyone is affected by the time change twice a year.

The Consequences of Daylight Saving Time

Whether we're switching to Daylight Saving Time in the spring or back to Standard Time in the fall, those clock changes affect the way we sleep, the way we work, and even our health. That's why I've been keeping an eye on the Sunshine Protection Act.

The bill, H.R. 139, was introduced in 2025 by Florida Congressman Vern Buchanan. Its goal is simple: make Daylight Saving Time permanent so we no longer have to change our clocks twice a year.

Some people love the idea. Others are completely against it. The debate has been going on for years.

Legislative Progress and Presidential Support

Now, the latest update is that the bill has reportedly passed the House and is headed to the Senate. If it clears the Senate, President Donald Trump has said he would sign it into law.

State-Specific Implications for Montana

So what would that mean for Montana?

Take Billings as an example. According to AccuWeather, on January 15, if Montana stayed on permanent Daylight Saving Time, the sun wouldn't rise until 8:51 a.m., but it also wouldn't set until 5:56 p.m.

Morning people argue it isn’t safe for commuters and kids going to school in the dark all winter long. Personally, that doesn’t affect me, since I go to work when it’s dark 95% of the year. I don’t mind if we stay on Daylight Saving Time or Standard Time all year long, as long as we stop changing our clocks. That’s the part that is hard for most people.

Right now, it's up to the Senate, and there is a chance that it can pass. If it passes the Senate, the President has said in the past that he'll sign it into law.