A statewide vote on year-round time

The text as introduced · 802 words

89R2004 MCK-D

By: Bettencourt
S.B. No. 2029

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to authorizing a statewide referendum allowing voters to

indicate a preference for observing year-round standard time or

daylight saving time.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 312.016, Government Code, is amended by

adding Subsection (d) to read as follows:

(d) The state, acting under the exemption provisions of

Section 3(a), Uniform Time Act of 1966 (15 U.S.C. Section 260a(a)),

is exempt from the provisions of that law that establish daylight

saving time. The exemption provided by this subsection applies to

both the portion of the state using central standard time as the

official standard time and the portion of the state using mountain

standard time as the official standard time.

SECTION 2. Section 312.016, Government Code, is amended by

adding Subsection (d) to read as follows:

(d) The state, acting as authorized under federal law, shall

observe daylight saving time year-round. This subsection applies

to both the portion of the state using central standard time as the

official standard time and the portion of the state using mountain

standard time as the official standard time.

SECTION 3. (a) At the general election to be held on

November 4, 2025, a statewide referendum shall be conducted to

allow the voters of this state to indicate a preference for either:

(1) observing standard time year-round; or

(2) observing daylight saving time year-round.

(b) The ballot for the referendum shall be printed to state

as follows: "Which of the following do you prefer?

"Observing standard time year-round."

"Observing daylight saving time year-round."

(c) The secretary of state shall design the ballot for the

referendum to enable a voter to select either of the statements set

out in Subsection (b) of this section as the voter's preference.

(d) The proposition for the referendum shall be printed on

the ballot under the heading: "Referendum Proposition" immediately

following the proposed constitutional amendment authorizing a

statewide referendum to allow the voters to choose between

observing standard time year-round and observing daylight saving

time year-round.

(e) Notice of the election shall be given in the same manner

that notice of proposed constitutional amendments is given.

(f) Returns of the votes cast on the proposition shall be

prepared and canvassed in the same manner as the returns on the

proposed constitutional amendments. Immediately after the results

of the election are certified, the secretary of state shall

transmit a copy of the certification to the lieutenant governor and

the speaker of the house of representatives.

SECTION 4. (a) If the constitutional amendment proposed by

the 89th Legislature, Regular Session, 2025, authorizing the

statewide referendum under Section 3 of this Act is approved by the

voters and if a majority of the votes cast in the statewide

referendum are in favor of "Observing standard time year-round,"

Section 1 of this Act takes effect January 1, 2026, and Section 2 of

this Act does not take effect.

(b) If the constitutional amendment proposed by the 89th

Legislature, Regular Session, 2025, authorizing the statewide

referendum under Section 3 of this Act is approved by the voters and

if a majority of the votes cast in the statewide referendum are in

favor of "Observing daylight saving time year-round," Section 1 of

this Act does not take effect and Section 2 of this Act takes effect

only if the United States Congress enacts legislation that becomes

law that authorizes the State of Texas to observe daylight saving

time year-round. If the United States Congress does not enact

legislation that becomes law described by this subsection, Section

2 of this Act has no effect.

SECTION 5. (a) Except as otherwise provided by this Act,

this Act takes effect immediately if this Act receives a vote of

two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by

Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not

receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes

effect September 1, 2025.

(b) This Act takes effect only if the 89th Legislature,

Regular Session, 2025, proposes a constitutional amendment

authorizing a statewide referendum allowing voters to indicate a

preference for observing year-round standard time or daylight

saving time. If the 89th Legislature, Regular Session, 2025, does

not propose such a constitutional amendment, this Act has no

effect.

(c) Section 4 of this Act and, subject to Section 4, Sections

1 and 2 of this Act take effect only if the constitutional amendment

proposed by the 89th Legislature, Regular Session, 2025,

authorizing a statewide referendum allowing voters to indicate a

preference for observing year-round standard time or daylight

saving time is approved by the voters. If that amendment is not

approved by the voters, Sections 1, 2, and 4 of this Act have no

effect.