Clock Change Highlights AM Stations’ Sunrise Challenge.

As Americans prepare to move their clocks forward this weekend, lawmakers in Washington and state capitals continue debating whether the twice-a-year time change should finally come to an end. Daylight saving time begins Sunday, March 8 — the earliest possible date for the annual “spring forward.” Unless Congress acts, the practice will continue in November when clocks fall back an hour.

When the clocks change, it is not only morning show hosts who feel the impact. For daytime-only AM stations, the biannual shift directly affects their hours of operation, particularly during the critical morning drive daypart. Because many AM stations must operate only between local sunrise and sunset, later winter sunrises can delay sign-on times, cutting into valuable airtime.

Several proposals in Congress aim to eliminate the biannual clock change. The most prominent are House and Senate versions of the Sunshine Protection Act (S.29/ H.R.139), which would make daylight saving time permanent nationwide. Two additional bills would give states the authority to adopt year-round daylight saving time on their own. Rep. Greg Steube (R-FL) last month also introduced the Daylight Act (H. R. 7378) that would permanently set the clocks ahead by a half hour.

Efforts to advance the legislation have repeatedly stalled. The Senate attempted to fast-track the Sunshine Protection Act last October, but the move was blocked. Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR), who warned the shift could create “absurdly late” winter sunrises in parts of the country. He noted the sun wouldn’t rise until nearly 9am during winter in Seattle. And in Williston, ND, they would not see the sun until nearly 9:45am.

For broadcasters, the impact could be significant. Permanent daylight saving time would delay sunrise even further during winter months, meaning some daytime-only AM stations could not begin broadcasting until well into the morning drive period. In addition to daytime-only stations, many other AMs operate at reduced power or switch to directional signals after sunset to protect other stations on the dial.

Some stations could see modest benefits in the afternoon, as permanent daylight saving time would extend usable daylight hours later into the day. But broadcasters argue those gains would not offset losses during morning drive. It still represents a large share of advertising revenue for many stations.

The National Association of Broadcasters has urged lawmakers to reject permanent daylight saving time, while the National Religious Broadcasters has also called for additional study, including research into how the shift would affect radio operations.

Supporters of ending the clock changes say the public is increasingly frustrated with the twice-yearly switch. They argue it disrupts sleep patterns, creates confusion and serves little modern purpose. The idea has strong backing from industries such as golf and tourism, which say longer evening daylight would boost business.

Yet medical experts have also entered the debate, warning that permanent daylight saving time could disrupt natural sleep cycles. Several health organizations argue that the body’s internal clock aligns more closely with standard time and have urged lawmakers to adopt permanent standard time instead.

Alongside the federal proposals, dozens of states have considered their own legislation in recent years. Legislation has also been introduced in states including Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, Virginia and West Virginia. But while states may adopt permanent standard time without congressional approval, they cannot adopt permanent daylight saving time unless federal law changes.

For now, the debate remains unresolved. Without action from Congress, Americans will continue adjusting their clocks twice each year — springing forward this weekend and falling back again on Nov. 1.