SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Illinois lawmakers are once again pushing to make daylight saving time permanent, a move that would end the need to change the clocks twice a year.

Two Illinois lawmakers, Rep. Brad Halbrook (R-Shelbyvile) and Rep. Bob Morgan (D-Deerfield), have introduced legislation that would make daylight saving time “the year-round standard time in the entire state.”

The bills, which contain nearly identical language, aim to eliminate the two yearly clock changes in March and November by making daylight saving time permanent. If approved, the change could take effect in March 2026, provided it aligns with federal regulations.

Both bills (HB 1400 and HB 0039) have advanced to the Illinois House Rules Committee, though similar proposals have stalled there in recent years. Because of that, it remains unclear whether either measure will gain enough support to move forward.

The debate over daylight saving time continues to be a hot-button topic in many states. Supporters may feel that more daylight in the evening hours could benefit businesses and improve public safety, while opponents warn of potential disruptions to time zones and sleeping patterns.

The Uniform Time Act of 1966, approved by U.S. President Lyndon Johnson, created Daylight Saving Time to begin on the last Sunday of April and end on the last Sunday of October. The annual observance has been modified to begin in early-March and end in early-November in recent years, though not all states recognize the annual time changes.

In any case that Illinois were to pass a law for a permanent daylight saving change, it would still need to comply with federal laws. States that didn’t previously make a change around a Congressional Amendment in 1972 would need approval from U.S. Congress to otherwise make the change a reality.