Bills filed to end time switch at state, federal levels

Texas voters may soon have the opportunity to decide whether to make Daylight Savings Time permanent if a bill filed by State Sen. Paul Bettencourt (R-Houston) becomes law this session. If the voters approve, Texas would be grouped with states like Arizona and Hawaii that don’t switch their clocks forward and back twice a year.

State Rep. David Spiller (R-Olney) says he favors switching permanently to Daylight Savings Time.

“There are a number of bills that have been filed calling for a statewide referendum allowing for voters to indicate a preference on whether to continue what we’re doing, to observe standard time year-round, or to observe daylight saving time year-round,” Mr. Spiller said. “I’m okay with a referendum. My personal preference would be to observe daylight saving time year-round, but I’m completely okay with observing standard time year-round. I’m not a fan of switching back and forth between the two semi-annually.”

Right now, federal law does not allow states to shift in Daylight Saving Time, only to stay on Standard Time, Mr. Bettancourt said. U.S. Senator Marco Rubio’s (R-Florida) “Sunshine Protection Act of 2023” would allow states to adopt Daylight Saving Time DST. In March 2022, a previous version of Sen. Rubio’s bill passed the Senate unanimously but was held in the U.S. House of Representatives “The issue of Daylight Saving Time has roused passions on both sides of the debate for over 100 years,” said Sen. Bettencourt. “Texans like me want to be on one time, and the Federal Congress hasn’t given us the option to vote on Daylight Saving Time. [My bill] gives Texans the opportunity to vote on the issue and express their opinion on the debate once and for all in the Lone Star State!”

If passed by the Legislature, the bill would require a vote on the Nov. 7 General Election ballot about whether to keep Daylight Savings Time.

Daylight Saving Time was first enacted in the United States during World War I but was repealed in 1919 over the veto of President Woodrow Wilson. It was restarted during World War II, but it was repealed again three weeks after the end of the war during the Truman Administration. A patchwork quilt remained until Congress passed the Uniform Time Act in 1966, which allowed States to stay on standard time if they wish. “Texans are tired of having to change their clocks and lose an hour’s sleep for no reason,” said Rep. Mike Schofield (R-Katy, Cypress), the House author of the bill. “People would like to get home from work and play with their kids without it being dark half the time. There’s no reason not to fix this.”

At the Federal level, U.S. Senator Marco Rubio refiled legislation in the Senate to allow the States to go to a Daylight Saving Time option and permanently end the twice-a-year adjustment of clocks. “Instead of fall back and spring forward, it would be a fall vote to keep a Daylight Saving Time,” Sen. Bettencourt said.