Chicago continues to grapple with the debate over whether to maintain the twice-yearly clock changes or adopt a permanent time system, as efforts to end the practice have stalled in the Senate. The upcoming shift back to standard time is scheduled for early Sunday morning, when clocks will be set back one hour.
The biannual clock adjustment, originally designed to conserve energy and make better use of daylight, has long divided opinion among residents and experts alike. Advocates for permanent daylight saving time argue that extended evening light boosts economic activity and leisure opportunities, while proponents of year-round standard time emphasize the alignment of the body's internal clock with natural sunlight and potential safety benefits.
From medical professionals to local business owners, perspectives vary widely. Dr. Sabra Abbott, a Northwestern neurologist specializing in circadian rhythm disorders, warns that the prolonged misalignment caused by daylight saving time—lasting about eight months each year—can lead to poorer sleep quality and increased cardiovascular risks. “You never fully catch up,” Abbott said of the body's attempt to synchronize with solar time during daylight saving months. Similarly, Dr. James Rowley, director of the sleep medicine fellowship at Rush University Medical Center, pointed to the 1974 experiment with permanent daylight saving time, which was widely criticized due to dark winter mornings delaying sunrise until nearly 9 a.m., raising concerns about child safety. Rowley underscored the importance of morning sunlight in establishing healthy sleep patterns and noted that later sunrises have been linked to higher rates of depression.
On the other side of the debate, business owners such as Richard Klatzco, manager of Novelty Golf & Games in Lincolnwood, favor permanent daylight saving time, citing the benefit of extended afternoon light for both customers and maintenance work. Tourism advocates and some legislators argue that longer evenings encourage consumer spending and outdoor activities. President Donald Trump has publicly supported the Sunshine Protection Act, a federal bill seeking to make daylight saving time permanent nationwide. The measure passed the House earlier this year but remains stalled in the Senate.
The issue has proven divisive within political parties as well. Republican Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas, who chairs the Senate Intelligence Committee, has opposed the Sunshine Protection Act, arguing that permanent daylight saving time would force children to commute to school during dark mornings, raising safety concerns. His position prompted President Trump to press him publicly, displaying Cotton’s phone number on social media in an attempt to sway his stance.
Locally, Illinois lawmakers reflect the broader national split. Democratic State Senator Rachel Ventura has co-sponsored a bill supporting permanent daylight saving time, emphasizing that later sunsets could provide commuters with more daylight after work, while Republican Senator Jil Tracy has proposed legislation to keep Illinois on year-round standard time. Ventura noted the political deadlock is longstanding and difficult to resolve, with competing interests and no consensus among constituents or experts.
Other residents highlight practical concerns tied to their daily routines. Bryce Bowman, owner of ChiTown Drive-In in Pilsen, prefers permanent standard time since earlier darkness in the evening enables the theater to show multiple movies on winter nights, which boosts business. Dog-walker Gina Scaletta, meanwhile, supports permanent standard time for safety reasons, citing the risk of walking clients’ dogs in dark, icy winter mornings.
Despite the ongoing debate, a majority of Americans are either indifferent or opposed to keeping the current biannual clock changes, according to a 2025 AP-NORC poll. Some states and Canadian provinces have already shifted to permanent daylight saving time, complicating cross-border scheduling and raising concerns about a patchwork of time zones. Federal law currently prohibits states from adopting permanent daylight saving time without congressional approval, though 19 states have passed laws to implement it should such authorization occur.
With no Senate vote imminent and lawmakers focused on the midterm elections, the traditional clock change will proceed this fall. For now, Chicagoans will reset their clocks and continue to navigate the longstanding disagreements over how best to organize their time. Residents like Chicago actor Chris Prentice express skepticism that a resolution is near, reflecting a broader sentiment that the issue transcends political divides but remains deeply entrenched.