Parents and early risers could face a new winter reality: brighter evenings, but children sent out into the darkness. This is what will happen: You step outside on a cold December morning, coffee in hand, the sky still inky black. School bus schedules will change, arriving at every destination before sunrise, and children will walk to class in darkness. Workers will go to work under the night sky.
That is the situation facing New Mexicans if the United States abandons its twice-yearly ritual of changing the clocks. This possibility is not farfetched. On July 14, the House of Representatives voted 308-114 to pass the Sunshine Protection Act, a legislation to make daylight saving time permanent.
Under permanent DST, New Mexico would remain on Mountain Daylight Time year-round — effectively keeping the clocks one hour ahead of standard time during winter.
Everyone knows the sun would not change its schedule. Only the clock would. And that sheer adjustment could dramatically alter what winter mornings could be like across the state.
Albuquerque’s sunrise after 8am
At present, in Albuquerque, the sunrise during winter solstice comes at about 7:10am. That would shift to roughly 8:10am with permanent DST. And the sunset would come at around 4:58pm to nearly 6pm.
That could mean parents get their children ready for school while it is still dark outside. But they return home to an extra hour of daylight.
The effect would be even more pronounced in Farmington. There, winter sunrise would occur between approximately 7:21am and 8:21am, while sunset would be around 5pm to about 6pm.
The proposal would not change the amount of sunlight, the numbers on the clock would.
‘Going to school in the dark’
That is what many people fear. Such a time system could create a winter reality where children wait for school buses, walk to school, and begin their morning routines before the sun rises.
Farmers, outdoor workers, and people who value bright early mornings have voiced similar concerns. An 8am sunrise for them is not simply a number on a clock. That can mean starting the working day in darkness.
But advocates of the proposal see it differently. They argue that Americans should stop the twice-yearly disruptions to their sleep and routines caused by the notorious “spring forward” and “fall back.”
They also highlight the appeal of brighter evenings. Families could spend more time outdoors after school and work, they say. They further argue that brighter winter afternoons could improve people’s mood during the darkest months of the year.
New Mexico has tried the idea before
The debate is not new in New Mexico. State lawmakers have repeatedly proposed keeping the state on a one-time schedule year-round, but these efforts have failed.
Under current federal law, states cannot unilaterally adopt permanent DST. It requires federal approval.
Congress has repeatedly attempted to legislate making DST permanent nationwide. It consistently kept the issue alive and ensured the clock debate will not disappear.
If the proposal would finally win, giving states the green light to change the clock, New Mexico would have a major decision to make.
What will change?
Winter mornings: Sunrise would be about one hour later. Many communities would see winter sunrises after 8am.
Winter evenings: Sunset would be one hour later. That means more daylight after school and work.
Summer: Virtually, nothing will change. New Mexico is already on DST during the summer.
Across the state: The times for sunrise and sunset would vary from Gallup to Hobbs, but the one-hour winter shift would remain the same.
There is an important distinction. Permanent DST would not increase the amount of sunlight.
The Earth would continue to rotate exactly as it always has. The sun would rise and set according to science. It would only mean that what is 7am for New Mexicans now should be called 8am.
And that is why this proposal has become an emotional issue. One side sees brighter winter evenings, fewer clock changes, and more time outdoors. The other aisle of the debate sees sleepy children waiting for buses beneath a dark sky and workers starting their day before sunrise.
It remains uncertain whether Congress will finally change the rules. But if it eventually does, New Mexicans could find themselves living with 8am winter sunrises for good.
Only the clock would change. The sun stays the same.
