Lawmakers: Turn back clock on time changes

It’s no time for a change!

The Texas Legislature will again consider the elimination of the twice-a-year toggle between Standard Time (ST) and Daylight-Saving Time (DST) when it convenes Jan. 14, 2025 through June 2, 2025.

State lawmakers have already filed multiple bills to make Daylight Saving Time year-round, although previous efforts have failed. In 2023, the Texas House voted to stay permanently on Daylight Saving Time, but the Senate never saw the bill.

Even if the measure passes the Texas Legislature and is signed by Gov. Abbott, Congress must still approve it. Now is the time for us to take action and insist on Congress passing a law for a permanent time change.

There are many reasons why lawmakers must support the permanent time change favored by more than two-thirds of Americans. We are forced to switch between Daylight Saving Time (DST) and Standard Time (ST) twice a year.

Besides the confusion as- sociated with schedule adjustments, our sleep patterns are disrupted, leading to an increase in various health risks; we are prone to having more motor vehicle accidents; and a survey from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) says “the time change has long-term negative consequences on our bodies and minds.”

Furthermore, the negative impact of time change on children, as voiced by many parents, is a cause for concern. The frustration and challenges they face in getting their children to adjust to a new sleep schedule are palpable.

Amber Burris of Olney says getting her daughter to adjust to a new sleep schedule is challenging when the time change comes around. “The time should stay the same whether it’s Daylight Saving Time or Standard Time,” Ms. Burris said. “It is hard to get my daughter to go to bed when it doesn’t get dark until 9 p.m.”

Parent Terri Hayter agrees that the time should stay the same year-round. Mom of two, Lindsey Stephens, says a consistent sleep schedule is important, and her children function better when they have sufficient sleep.

It is crucial that we, as a community, urge legislators to support a permanent time change. The time has come to either abandon or embrace the Daylight Saving Time concept that Benjamin Franklin recommended in 1795. Whether we choose DST or ST, the key is to make the choice permanent.