Texas 2025 - 89th Regular

Texas Senate Bill SB64 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	89R2884 MCK-D
2	2	By: Zaffirini S.B. No. 64
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7	7	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
8	8	AN ACT
9	9	relating to observing standard time year-round and authorizing a
10	10	statewide referendum allowing voters to indicate a preference for
11	11	observing standard time year-round or observing daylight saving
12	12	time year-round.
13	13	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
14	14	SECTION 1. (a) Section 312.016, Government Code, is
15	15	amended by adding Subsection (d) to read as follows:
16	16	(d) The state, acting under the exemption provisions of
17	17	Section 3(a), Uniform Time Act of 1966 (15 U.S.C. Section 260a(a)),
18	18	is exempt from the provisions of that law that establish daylight
19	19	saving time. The exemption provided by this subsection applies to
20	20	both the portion of the state using central standard time as the
21	21	official standard time and the portion of the state using mountain
22	22	standard time as the official standard time.
23	23	(b) This section takes effect November 3, 2025, to coincide
24	24	with the end of daylight saving time for 2025.
25	25	SECTION 2. (a) Section 312.016, Government Code, is
26	26	amended by adding Subsection (d) to read as follows:
27	27	(d) The state, acting as authorized under federal law, shall
28	28	observe daylight saving time year-round. This subsection applies
29	29	to both the portion of the state using central standard time as the
30	30	official standard time and the portion of the state using mountain
31	31	standard time as the official standard time.
32	32	(b) Section 312.016(d), Government Code, as added by this
33	33	section, becomes law only if a majority of the votes cast in the
34	34	statewide referendum authorized by Section 3 of this Act are in
35	35	favor of "Observing daylight saving time year-round." If a
36	36	majority of the votes cast in the statewide referendum authorized
37	37	by Section 3 of this Act are not in favor of "Observing daylight
38	38	saving time year-round," this section has no effect.
39	39	SECTION 3. (a) If the United States Congress enacts
40	40	legislation that becomes law that authorizes this state to observe
41	41	daylight saving time year-round, a statewide referendum shall be
42	42	conducted to allow the voters of this state to indicate a preference
43	43	for either:
44	44	(1) observing standard time year-round; or
45	45	(2) observing daylight saving time year-round.
46	46	(b) The ballot for the referendum shall be printed to state
47	47	as follows: "Which of the following do you prefer?
48	48	"Observing standard time year-round."
49	49	"Observing daylight saving time year-round."
50	50	(c) The secretary of state shall design the ballot for the
51	51	referendum to enable a voter to select either of the statements set
52	52	out in Subsection (b) of this section as the voter's preference.
53	53	(d) The proposition for the referendum shall be printed on
54	54	the ballot under the heading: "Referendum Proposition."
55	55	(e) Notice of the election shall be given in the same manner
56	56	that notice of proposed constitutional amendments is given.
57	57	(f) Returns of the votes cast on the proposition shall be
58	58	prepared and canvassed in the same manner as the returns on the
59	59	proposed constitutional amendments. Immediately after the results
60	60	of the election are certified, the secretary of state shall
61	61	transmit a copy of the certification to the lieutenant governor and
62	62	the speaker of the house of representatives.
63	63	(g) Except as provided by Subsection (h) of this section,
64	64	the statewide referendum under this section shall be held during
65	65	the first general election for state and county officers following
66	66	the date the United States Congress enacts legislation that becomes
67	67	law that authorizes this state to observe daylight saving time
68	68	year-round.
69	69	(h) If the date the United States Congress enacts
70	70	legislation that becomes law that authorizes this state to observe
71	71	daylight saving time year-round is less than 74 days before the date
72	72	of the next general election for state and county officers, the
73	73	statewide referendum under this section shall be held during the
74	74	second general election for state and county officers following the
75	75	date the United States Congress enacts legislation that becomes law
76	76	that authorizes this state to observe daylight saving time
77	77	year-round.
78	78	SECTION 4. (a) If the constitutional amendment proposed by
79	79	the 89th Legislature, Regular Session, 2025, authorizing the
80	80	statewide referendum under Section 3 of this Act is approved by the
81	81	voters and if a majority of the votes cast in the statewide
82	82	referendum are in favor of "Observing standard time year-round,"
83	83	Section 312.016(d), Government Code, as added by this Act, remains
84	84	in effect and Section 2 of this Act does not take effect.
85	85	(b) If the constitutional amendment proposed by the 89th
86	86	Legislature, Regular Session, 2025, authorizing the statewide
87	87	referendum under Section 3 of this Act is approved by the voters and
88	88	if a majority of the votes cast in the statewide referendum are in
89	89	favor of "Observing daylight saving time year-round," Section
90	90	312.016(d), Government Code, as added by this Act, is repealed and
91	91	Section 2 of this Act takes effect on the date daylight saving time
92	92	begins after the statewide referendum under Section 3 of this Act.
93	93	SECTION 5. (a) Except as otherwise provided by this Act,
94	94	this Act takes effect September 1, 2025.
95	95	(b) Sections 2, 3, and 4 of this Act take effect only if the
96	96	constitutional amendment proposed by the 89th Legislature, Regular
97	97	Session, 2025, authorizing a referendum election on the issue of
98	98	daylight saving time is approved by the voters. If that amendment
99	99	is not approved by the voters, Sections 2, 3, and 4 of this Act have
100	100	no effect.