Proposed Bill Aims to Change Daylight Saving Time in Illinois

While most daylight savings time bills in Congress have focused on locking the locks a full hour ahead of standard tie, a newly introduced proposal is taking a slightly different approach.

The Daylight Act of 2026, formerly known as H.R. 7378, was introduced earlier this month. Instead of the country permanently one hour ahead, the bill calls for advancing clocks by just 30 minutes, eliminating the twice-a-year time changes altogether.

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In other words, no more "spring forward" and "fall back". Instead of choosing between standard time and full daylight savings time, this proposal would land somewhere right in the middle.

Proposed Bill Could Make ‘Half-Daylight Saving Time’ Permanent in Illinois

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Losing just 30 minutes of sleep instead of a whole hour might sound like an easier adjustment. However, experts are saying that any permanent shift away from standard time could still post long-term health concerns. Research has linked clock changes (especially the move forward in spring) to disruptions in:

Sleep cycles
heart health
overall circadian rhythm alignment

The President of the nonprofit Save Standard Time says that standard time is designed to better align our clocks with the sun.

“The design of Standard Time (when aligned properly to longitude) is to minimize misalignment between clocks and the sun to within 30 minutes or fewer,” Pea explained.

He even warned that a 30-minute nationwide shift could actually create unintended complications for technology systems, transportation schedules, and businesses that operate across time zones. From airline timetables to software systems and global markets, even small time adjustments can have widespread ripple effects.

The debate over daylight savings has been ongoing for years, with Americans always torn between eliminating clock changes altogether. Now the questions becomes: Is a half-hour compromise the solution? Or does it simply add another layer to an already complicated issue?

Discover all the proposed bills working their way through Congress this year.

LOOK: Here are the 25 best places to live in Illinois

Stacker compiled a list of the best places to live in Illinois using data from Niche. Niche ranks places to live based on a variety of factors including cost of living, schools, health care, recreation, and weather. Cities, suburbs, and towns were included. Listings and images are from realtor.com.

On the list, there's a robust mix of offerings from great schools and nightlife to high walkability and public parks. Some areas have enjoyed rapid growth thanks to new businesses moving to the area, while others offer glimpses into area history with well-preserved architecture and museums. Keep reading to see if your hometown made the list.