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The Texas Legislature has passed a bill to establish daylight saving time (DST) year-round, pending federal approval. House Bill 1393, introduced by Representative Will Metcalf from Conroe, aims to eliminate the biannual clock changes in Texas. The bill, sponsored in the Senate by Senator Paul Bettencourt from Houston, has been sent to Governor Greg Abbott for signing. However, federal law currently prevents states from adopting DST permanently without congressional action.
The bill, which passed the Senate with a 27-4 vote, proposes that the state observe "Texas Time" all year. Proponents argue that extending daylight into the evening hours would benefit Texans in the modern economy. Bettencourt noted, "It's very difficult to use that hour before an 8 a.m. start for school or work very effectively, but you can use the several hours later, up through dusk."
Opponents, like Senator Nathan Johnson of Dallas, caution against the change, citing past concerns from the 1970s when the U.S. briefly adopted permanent DST. Johnson argued that standard time aligns better with natural circadian rhythms. Despite mixed public opinion, with some polls showing support for eliminating time changes, the bill's implementation hinges on federal action.
Governor Abbott has previously expressed support for permanent DST, and Texas joins 18 other states in waiting for federal approval. The Sunshine Protection Act, which would allow states to adopt DST year-round, has been introduced in Congress multiple times but has yet to gain significant traction.