Year-round daylight saving time could affect health, education, and more

The Senate overwhelmingly passed a bill that would keep daylight saving time in effect throughout the year.

Children might start going to school in darkness next year in exchange for more sun later in the day, while their parents commute home from work with the benefit of light.

Those would be among the impacts of ditching standard time and adopting year-round daylight saving time, a change in legislation the Senate passed this week with virtually no opposition.

If the Sunshine Protection Act, as written, were to gain House approval and President Joe Biden's signature, Americans would fall back this November, spring forward in March 2023 and then never change their clocks again.

After nearly all Americans set their clocks back on Nov. 7 to usher in standard time, the sun came up over New York City at 6:33 a.m. ET and set at 4:45 p.m. On the last day of standard time on Saturday, the sun rose and set over the city at 6:12 a.m. and 5:59 p.m., respectively.

Keeping daylight saving time through those fall and winter months would push sunrise an hour later, meaning early risers and children who head to school around 7 a.m. would do so as the sun still slumbers.