Ever get bummed out that the sun sets so early after daylight saving time ends in the fall?

You're not alone.

One state lawmaker agrees, and he's pushing to keep Florida on daylight time permanently.

State Sen. Darren Soto has filed a bill that would mandate that Florida keep its clock in daylight-saving time year-round.

The Orlando Democrat said he sponsored the bill (S.B. 734) because he gets frustrated that it gets dark earlier during the winter.

The bill's name: The "Sunshine Protection Act."

Soto represents Florida's 14th Senate district, covering parts of Orange, Osceola and Polk counties.

He admitted he has little hope his bill will get passed this year, but said he wants to start a discussion about daylight saving time.

Soto also said there is a question whether it's legal under federal law for Florida to keep itself on daylight saving time.

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Sunshine Protection Act

  • "Daylight Saving Time;
  • Citing this act as the 'Sunshine Protection Act';
  • Requiring that the State of Florida and its political subdivisions observe daylight saving time year-round;
  • Authorizing each district school board to adjust school start times due to the year-round observance of daylight saving time;
  • Authorizing the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to study adjustments in standard agricultural practices due to the year-round observance of daylight saving time, etc."
  • Read the FULL bill and follow its progress online HERE.

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If passed, the bill would take effect Jan. 1, 2014. Then, once Florida "springs forward" in March of that year, we'd stay on Eastern Daylight Time -- and Central Daylight Time on the western Panhandle -- permanently.

Florida would become the third U.S. state not to change its clocks with the rest of the country; Most of Arizona and all of Hawaii do not observe daylight saving time, and stay on standard time year-round.

For young golfers Will Howcraft and Jacob Jarrett, every drive is about finding the sweet spot that will help find their ball a home on the green -- all the more important in the winter because, after all, they have less time to play.

When the clock hits 6 p.m., their round of golf is all but over, another casualty of shorter days in the winter, but under a new bill in Tallahassee, they'd have an extra hour.

"It can obviously help, because we'd have more time to play golf," said Howcraft. "That would be good, and more time to golf's better, I guess."

"It's always better," Jarrett added.

Better not just for local golfers, but also for tourists -- and by extension, Florida's entire economy, according to Soto's bill.

Another hour of sunshine could tee up untold millions in everything from green fees to cart rentals, to fishing trips and skydiving lessons.

But it could also come with one big handicap: If daylight saving time was observed in the winter, the sun would not rise until after 8 a.m.

The bill, however, would allow counties to start school an hour later to keep kids from heading out in the dark, a big concern for parents and grandparents, including Michael Brewton.

"Especially with the current situation with the gun violence and stuff like that, it would be better for there to be more visibility for kids to be able to walk to the bus stops, or wherever the pickup place is," said Brewton.

Farmers still have issues with a darker morning; they would have to work later into the evening.

Even Howcraft and Jarrett admitted not "falling back" in November would be a bit of a shock. They wouldn't get to sleep in.

"It always throws me off, too," said Jarrett. "So, I don't know. An extra hour to play golf's always good, though."

And who knows? All that extra practice could mean the difference between staying an amateur and going pro.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.