Bill Text: TX HB1405 | 2021-2022 | 87th 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: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-03-05 - Referred to State Affairs [HB1405 Detail]
Download: Texas-2021-HB1405-Introduced.html
| 87R3358 MCK-D | ||
| By: Larson | H.B. No. 1405 | |
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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 2, 2021, 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 a majority of the votes cast in the | ||
| statewide referendum under Section 3 of this Act are in favor of | ||
| "Observing standard time year-round," Section 1 of this Act takes | ||
| effect January 1, 2022, and Section 2 of this Act does not take | ||
| effect. | ||
| (b) If a majority of the votes cast in the referendum under | ||
| Section 3 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. Sections 3 and 4 of this Act and this section | ||
| take 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, Sections 3 and 4 of this Act | ||
| and this section take effect on the 91st day after the last day of | ||
| the legislative session. | ||
