When Do We Fall Back in 2026? Here’s the Date

The Sunshine Protection Act Could Change How Dark Your Evansville Mornings Feel

I have to admit, getting up when it's dark outside is way harder than getting up when it's bright and sunny. Even my puppy got up with me this morning around five and then went right back to bed. A month ago, 5 a.m. meant go-time! Now, it's just a couple more hours, Mom.

The Sunshine Protection Act Could Make Daylight Saving Time Permanent

When the current administration announced earlier in the year that the Sunshine Protection Act, a bill aimed at keeping Daylight Saving Time permanent, was a priority for the administration, I was pretty stoked. I hate it when it gets dark at 5 PM.

The bill passed the House on July 14, 2026, by a 308-117 vote. It was received by the Senate on July 15 and referred to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

And now it's sitting with the Senate.

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What Would Permanent Daylight Saving Time Mean for Evansville?

The latest sunrise in Evansville is 7:15 a.m. on October 31, 2026, while the earliest sunset is 4:32 p.m. on December 7, 2026. The shortest day of the year will be December 21, 2026, with about 9 hours and 31 minutes of daylight.

If Evansville stayed on Daylight Saving Time year-round, that 7:15 a.m. sunrise would become about 8:15 a.m. in late October. The December 7 sunset would shift from 4:32 p.m. to about 5:32 p.m.

I hate the time change, and I hate it when it gets dark at 5 p.m. But I also don't want it to be dark at 7 a.m. when I'm driving into work. So, I figured I'd wait and see and make the most of whatever the powers that be decide.

Silhouettes of people and dog walk under bridge

Why Has the Sunshine Protection Act Stalled?

Well, it's September, and so far I haven't heard much of anything about this bill becoming law. Personally, I think it will stall as it has in the past because both experts and lawmakers can't decide if Daylight Saving Time or Standard Time should become the norm.

The Sunshine Protection Act makes Daylight Saving Time permanent, meaning the clocks would stay an hour ahead all winter.

But experts from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine have advocated for permanent Standard Time, which would keep winter mornings brighter but eliminate that extra hour of evening daylight.

That's one of the biggest sticking points.

What About Kids Waiting for the School Bus?

Another concern is children getting on school buses in the dark.

If Daylight Saving Time were permanent, winter mornings would be darker, meaning many kids could be waiting for and boarding their buses in lower visibility. That's especially worth considering in places where the sun wouldn't come up until well after 8 a.m.

A person in silhouette beneath a glowing street lamp at night

Some Parts of the U.S. Could Have 9:30 a.m. Sunrises

And Evansville isn't even close to having the latest sunrise in the country.

If the U.S. adopted permanent Daylight Saving Time, some of the latest winter sunrises would occur in the northern parts of the country, particularly the northern Plains and Mountain West. For instance, Bismarck, North Dakota, could see sunrise at about 9:28 a.m. That's a pretty big difference from Evansville's roughly 8:15 a.m. winter sunrise under permanent Daylight Saving Time.

So, while getting an extra hour of evening daylight sounds pretty great, it comes with a tradeoff.

For Now, We're Still Changing the Clocks

So, for now, lawmakers are leaving well enough alone. Go ahead and write it in your calendar. Clocks will be moving back on November 1, 2026, with the time change happening at 2 a.m. to 1 a.m. . And I'll be over here enjoying every minute of daylight I can get before it starts getting dark at 5 p.m. again.