Bill Text: TX HB1931 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to authorizing a statewide referendum allowing voters to indicate a preference for observing standard time year-round or observing daylight saving time year-round.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 6-2)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2023-03-08 - Referred to State Affairs [HB1931 Detail]
Download: Texas-2023-HB1931-Introduced.html
88R3746 MCK-D | ||
By: Rogers | H.B. No. 1931 |
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relating to authorizing a statewide referendum allowing voters to | ||
indicate a preference for observing standard time year-round or | ||
observing daylight saving time year-round. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Section 312.016, Government Code, is amended by | ||
adding Subsection (d) to read as follows: | ||
(d) The state, acting under the exemption provisions of | ||
Section 3(a), Uniform Time Act of 1966 (15 U.S.C. Section 260a(a)), | ||
is exempt from the provisions of that law that establish daylight | ||
saving time. The exemption provided by this subsection applies to | ||
both the portion of the state using central standard time as the | ||
official standard time and the portion of the state using mountain | ||
standard time as the official standard time. | ||
SECTION 2. Section 312.016, Government Code, is amended by | ||
adding Subsection (d) to read as follows: | ||
(d) The state, acting as authorized under federal law, shall | ||
observe daylight saving time year-round. This subsection applies | ||
to both the portion of the state using central standard time as the | ||
official standard time and the portion of the state using mountain | ||
standard time as the official standard time. | ||
SECTION 3. (a) At the general election to be held on | ||
November 7, 2023, a statewide referendum shall be conducted to | ||
allow the voters of this state to indicate a preference for either: | ||
(1) observing standard time year-round; or | ||
(2) observing daylight saving time year-round. | ||
(b) The ballot for the referendum shall be printed to state | ||
as follows: "Which of the following do you prefer? | ||
"Observing standard time year-round." | ||
"Observing daylight saving time year-round." | ||
(c) The secretary of state shall design the ballot for the | ||
referendum to enable a voter to select either of the statements set | ||
out in Subsection (b) of this section as the voter's preference. | ||
(d) The proposition for the referendum shall be printed on | ||
the ballot under the heading: "Referendum Proposition" immediately | ||
following the proposed constitutional amendment authorizing a | ||
statewide referendum to allow the voters to choose between | ||
observing standard time year-round and observing daylight saving | ||
time year-round. | ||
(e) Notice of the election shall be given in the same manner | ||
that notice of proposed constitutional amendments is given. | ||
(f) Returns of the votes cast on the proposition shall be | ||
prepared and canvassed in the same manner as the returns on the | ||
proposed constitutional amendments. Immediately after the results | ||
of the election are certified, the secretary of state shall | ||
transmit a copy of the certification to the lieutenant governor and | ||
the speaker of the house of representatives. | ||
SECTION 4. (a) If the constitutional amendment proposed by | ||
the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023, authorizing the | ||
statewide referendum under Section 3 of this Act is approved by the | ||
voters and if a majority of the votes cast in the statewide | ||
referendum are in favor of "Observing standard time year-round," | ||
Section 1 of this Act takes effect January 1, 2024, and Section 2 of | ||
this Act does not take effect. | ||
(b) If the constitutional amendment proposed by the 88th | ||
Legislature, Regular Session, 2023, authorizing the statewide | ||
referendum under Section 3 of this Act is approved by the voters and | ||
if a majority of the votes cast in the statewide referendum are in | ||
favor of "Observing daylight saving time year-round," Section 1 of | ||
this Act does not take effect and Section 2 of this Act takes effect | ||
only if the United States Congress enacts legislation that becomes | ||
law that authorizes the State of Texas to observe daylight saving | ||
time year-round. If the United States Congress does not enact | ||
legislation that becomes law described by this subsection, Section | ||
2 of this Act has no effect. | ||
SECTION 5. (a) Except as otherwise provided by this Act, | ||
this Act takes effect immediately if this Act receives a vote of | ||
two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by | ||
Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not | ||
receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes | ||
effect September 1, 2023. | ||
(b) This Act takes effect only if the 88th Legislature, | ||
Regular Session, 2023, proposes a constitutional amendment | ||
authorizing a referendum election on the issue of daylight saving | ||
time. If the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023, does not | ||
propose such a constitutional amendment, this Act has no effect. | ||
(c) Sections 1, 2, and 4 of this Act take effect only if the | ||
constitutional amendment proposed by the 88th Legislature, Regular | ||
Session, 2023, authorizing a referendum election on the issue of | ||
daylight saving time is approved by the voters. If that amendment | ||
is not approved by the voters, Sections 1, 2, and 4 of this Act have | ||
no effect. |