The U.S. House voted 308-117 on July 14 to make daylight saving time permanent, sending H.R. 139 to the Senate as Senate GOP opposition to daylight saving time leaves the measure facing an uncertain path. President Donald Trump has signaled support for the change, but getting enough senators to back it remains questionable.
H.R. 139 reaches the Senate
The House action was the clearest step so far. By approving H.R. 139 and sending it to the Senate for consideration, lawmakers moved the debate from one chamber to the other, where the Senate version is S. 29.
S. 29 has been in limbo since Jan. 7, 2025, when it was referred to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. That referral means the bill has not yet advanced to a full Senate vote.
New Hampshire sunrise shifts
For New Hampshire, the change would not create more daylight. It would shift when daylight shows up, with darker mornings in fall and winter and more light in the evening.
Using times from timeanddate.com, the comparison is direct: instead of the sun coming up around 7 a.m. in December and January, many Granite Staters would see sunrise closer to 8 a.m. or later. Some winter sunrises would not happen until slightly after 8 a.m.
March and November clock changes
Under daylight saving time, clocks move forward one hour at 2 a.m. on the second Sunday in March and move back one hour at 2 a.m. on the first Sunday in November. Permanent daylight saving time would end that twice-yearly switch.
The seasonal contrast is sharpest around the solstices. The summer solstice was on June 21 this year, and the winter solstice will be on Dec. 21, when the shorter days make the morning shift most noticeable.
Donald Trump and Senate support
Donald Trump has signaled support for making daylight saving time permanent, but the Senate count still looks difficult. The House vote shows clear momentum in one chamber; the Senate has not shown the same pace on S. 29.
For New Hampshire readers, the practical change is simple: brighter evenings, later winter sunrises, and no extra daylight added to the day. Whether the Senate advances S. 29, and when, remains the question that now decides the outcome.
