Texas legislators are once again debating Daylight Saving Time, considering a statewide vote to end the twice-annual switch between two timekeeping methods.

Two weeks ago, a bill passed the Texas House by a 133-4 vote to put timekeeping to a statewide vote. The Texas Senate has not yet weighed in on the issue.

With approval by both legislative bodies, Texas voters would be asked to vote in November to adopt Daylight Saving Time or Standard Time as the official time in the state.

Since the federal Uniform Time Act went into effect in 1966, Texans have switched between the two, turning clocks up an hour in spring for DST from March to November and turning clocks back an our for Standard Time during winter months.

States can opt out of the twice-annual time changes, and two have done so, Arizona and Hawaii.

Ballots would have just the two choices, although a third option to continue switching between DST and Standard Time has been suggested, but rejected in the Texas House.

If voters decide to adopt DST year round, the change would require approval at the federal level because federal law allows only a shift to Standard Time.

For more stories like this, see the May 1 issue or subscribe online.

From Staff Reports • [email protected]