This week in Austin

Lawmaker introduces yet another possibility to end Daylight Saving Time

By Rita Cook
Correspondent
Texas Metro News

AUSTIN – Texas lawmakers come to Austin to make big changes every legislative session.

Some bills are big business and will pass by the end of the legislative session, while other bills will not even see the light of day.

In the case of Senate Bill 2029, and Senate Joint Resolution 67 to end Daylight Saving Time (DST), Senator Paul Bettencourt (R-Houston) is hoping his bill will literally change the future of the light of day.

Bettencourt filed Senate SB 2029 and SJR 67 last week asking Texans be given the opportunity to decide whether to observe Standard Time or Daylight Saving Time year-round through a statewide referendum in the November 4, 2025, General Election.

For years the debate has been going on around the country about springing forward every spring and falling back every fall to add or subtract an hour from time.

Bettencourt’s statewide referendum will ask Texans to choose.

“For years, Texans and Americans have debated clock changes, questioning their impact on health, safety, and the economy,” said Senator Bettencourt. “This bill puts the decision in Texans’ hands, just like Arizona and Hawaii, allowing them to choose the time standard that best suits our state’s unique needs.” 

Key Provisions of SB 2029, SJR 67 are to allow Texans to vote and if the majority votes for standard time, Texas will exempt itself from federal DST requirements. If the majority votes for year-round DST, Texas will adopt DST only if Congress passes a law allowing states to make this change.

The decision would apply to all portions of Texas that currently observe either Central Standard Time (CST) or Mountain Standard Time (MST).

If passed, the bill would take effect only if the 89th Texas Legislature passes a constitutional amendment authorizing the referendum.

“Texas families and businesses deserve the opportunity to voice their preference on this matter,” Bettencourt said in a press release. “SB 2029, SJR 67 ensures Texas’ approach to time observation follows the will of its people, because I for one, would like to have one time a year, regardless of what time is chosen.” 

There have been other bills debating the issue of DST, but Bettencourt’s bills are different in that voters are given the chance to decide if they want DST or Standard Time year-round.

Texas is currently on Standard Time and began observing DST this past weekend on March 9.

A Gallup poll reported most Americans would prefer keeping standard time the whole year even if it means less sunlight in the summertime. 

At the end of last year President Trump said he planned to get rid of DST.

There has also been a bipartisan bill introduced to Federal lawmakers called the Sunshine Protection Act. This act is a move to make Daylight Saving Time permanent in the United States. The Sunshine Protection Act has routinely stalled in Congress but was reintroduced this year.

In Texas, SB 2029 will now move through the legislative process, where it will be considered by the Texas Senate and House of Representatives. If passed, Texans will see the referendum question on their ballots in the November 2025, General Election. If approved by voters, the chosen time standard would take effect January 1, 2026.