Bill Text: TX SB1297 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to observing standard time year-round and 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 (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2023-03-09 - Referred to State Affairs [SB1297 Detail]
Download: Texas-2023-SB1297-Introduced.html
88R5860 MCK-D | ||
By: Zaffirini | S.B. No. 1297 |
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relating to observing standard time year-round and 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. (a) 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. | ||
(b) This section takes effect November 6, 2023, to coincide | ||
with the end of daylight saving time for 2023. | ||
SECTION 2. (a) 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. | ||
(b) Section 312.016(d), Government Code, as added by this | ||
section, becomes law only if a majority of the votes cast in the | ||
statewide referendum authorized by Section 3 of this Act are in | ||
favor of "Observing daylight saving time year-round." If a | ||
majority of the votes cast in the statewide referendum authorized | ||
by Section 3 of this Act are not in favor of "Observing daylight | ||
saving time year-round," this section has no effect. | ||
SECTION 3. (a) If the United States Congress enacts | ||
legislation that becomes law that authorizes this state to observe | ||
daylight saving time year-round, 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." | ||
(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. | ||
(g) Except as provided by Subsection (h) of this section, | ||
the statewide referendum under this section shall be held during | ||
the first general election for state and county officers following | ||
the date the United States Congress enacts legislation that becomes | ||
law that authorizes this state to observe daylight saving time | ||
year-round. | ||
(h) If the date the United States Congress enacts | ||
legislation that becomes law that authorizes this state to observe | ||
daylight saving time year-round is less than 74 days before the date | ||
of the next general election for state and county officers, the | ||
statewide referendum under this section shall be held during the | ||
second general election for state and county officers following the | ||
date the United States Congress enacts legislation that becomes law | ||
that authorizes this state to observe daylight saving time | ||
year-round. | ||
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 312.016(d), Government Code, as added by this Act, remains | ||
in effect 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 | ||
312.016(d), Government Code, as added by this Act, is repealed and | ||
Section 2 of this Act takes effect on the date daylight saving time | ||
begins after the statewide referendum under Section 3 of this Act. | ||
SECTION 5. (a) Except as otherwise provided by this Act, | ||
this Act takes effect September 1, 2023. | ||
(b) Sections 2, 3, 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 2, 3, and 4 of this Act have | ||
no effect. |