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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to observing standard time year-round and authorizing a |
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statewide referendum allowing voters to indicate a preference for |
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observing standard time year-round or observing daylight saving |
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time year-round. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. (a) Section 312.016, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Subsection (d) to read as follows: |
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(d) The state, acting under the exemption provisions of |
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Section 3(a), Uniform Time Act of 1966 (15 U.S.C. Section 260a(a)), |
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is exempt from the provisions of that law that establish daylight |
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saving time. The exemption provided by this subsection applies to |
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both the portion of the state using central standard time as the |
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official standard time and the portion of the state using mountain |
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standard time as the official standard time. |
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(b) This section takes effect November 3, 2025, to coincide |
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with the end of daylight saving time for 2025. |
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SECTION 2. (a) Section 312.016, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Subsection (d) to read as follows: |
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(d) The state, acting as authorized under federal law, shall |
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observe daylight saving time year-round. This subsection applies |
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to both the portion of the state using central standard time as the |
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official standard time and the portion of the state using mountain |
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standard time as the official standard time. |
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(b) Section 312.016(d), Government Code, as added by this |
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section, becomes law only if a majority of the votes cast in the |
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statewide referendum authorized by Section 3 of this Act are in |
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favor of "Observing daylight saving time year-round." If a |
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majority of the votes cast in the statewide referendum authorized |
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by Section 3 of this Act are not in favor of "Observing daylight |
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saving time year-round," this section has no effect. |
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SECTION 3. (a) If the United States Congress enacts |
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legislation that becomes law that authorizes this state to observe |
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daylight saving time year-round, a statewide referendum shall be |
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conducted to allow the voters of this state to indicate a preference |
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for either: |
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(1) observing standard time year-round; or |
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(2) observing daylight saving time year-round. |
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(b) The ballot for the referendum shall be printed to state |
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as follows: "Which of the following do you prefer? |
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"Observing standard time year-round." |
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"Observing daylight saving time year-round." |
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(c) The secretary of state shall design the ballot for the |
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referendum to enable a voter to select either of the statements set |
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out in Subsection (b) of this section as the voter's preference. |
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(d) The proposition for the referendum shall be printed on |
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the ballot under the heading: "Referendum Proposition." |
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(e) Notice of the election shall be given in the same manner |
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that notice of proposed constitutional amendments is given. |
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(f) Returns of the votes cast on the proposition shall be |
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prepared and canvassed in the same manner as the returns on the |
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proposed constitutional amendments. Immediately after the results |
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of the election are certified, the secretary of state shall |
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transmit a copy of the certification to the lieutenant governor and |
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the speaker of the house of representatives. |
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(g) Except as provided by Subsection (h) of this section, |
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the statewide referendum under this section shall be held during |
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the first general election for state and county officers following |
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the date the United States Congress enacts legislation that becomes |
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law that authorizes this state to observe daylight saving time |
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year-round. |
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(h) If the date the United States Congress enacts |
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legislation that becomes law that authorizes this state to observe |
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daylight saving time year-round is less than 74 days before the date |
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of the next general election for state and county officers, the |
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statewide referendum under this section shall be held during the |
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second general election for state and county officers following the |
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date the United States Congress enacts legislation that becomes law |
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that authorizes this state to observe daylight saving time |
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year-round. |
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SECTION 4. (a) If the constitutional amendment proposed by |
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the 89th Legislature, Regular Session, 2025, authorizing the |
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statewide referendum under Section 3 of this Act is approved by the |
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voters and if a majority of the votes cast in the statewide |
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referendum are in favor of "Observing standard time year-round," |
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Section 312.016(d), Government Code, as added by this Act, remains |
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in effect and Section 2 of this Act does not take effect. |
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(b) If the constitutional amendment proposed by the 89th |
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Legislature, Regular Session, 2025, authorizing the statewide |
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referendum under Section 3 of this Act is approved by the voters and |
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if a majority of the votes cast in the statewide referendum are in |
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favor of "Observing daylight saving time year-round," Section |
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312.016(d), Government Code, as added by this Act, is repealed and |
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Section 2 of this Act takes effect on the date daylight saving time |
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begins after the statewide referendum under Section 3 of this Act. |
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SECTION 5. (a) Except as otherwise provided by this Act, |
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this Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |
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(b) Sections 2, 3, and 4 of this Act take effect only if the |
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constitutional amendment proposed by the 89th Legislature, Regular |
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Session, 2025, authorizing a referendum election on the issue of |
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daylight saving time is approved by the voters. If that amendment |
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is not approved by the voters, Sections 2, 3, and 4 of this Act have |
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no effect. |