Could Texas have daylight saving time year-round?

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Last month, the Texas House passed a bill that would keep daylight saving time year-round in Texas. With the bill on its way to the Senate floor, it has a real chance of becoming law. 

Even if passed, however, the bill has a caveat. It will only go into effect if the United States Congress enacts legislation that allows the state to observe daylight saving year-round. If no legislation is passed, the bill will not go into effect.

This comes as part of the Uniform Time Act, a federal law that establishes uniform daylight saving time throughout the nation. States have the option to opt-out of daylight saving time and remain on standard time year-round, which is what Arizona and Hawaii established. But the act prevents states from establishing permanent daylight saving or changing their time zones without federal approval. 

HB 1393 is a repeat of last session’s push by the bill’s author Rep. Will Metcalf, R-Conroe, to observe daylight saving time year-round. While it failed last session, it may have a better chance with proponent President Donald Trump in office. 

“The House and Senate should push hard for more Daylight at the end of a day,” Trump posted on Truth Social in April. “Very popular and, most importantly, no more changing of the clocks, a big inconvenience and, for our government, A VERY COSTLY EVENT!!!”

Metcalf responded on X, “Thank you President @realDonaldTrump I couldn’t agree more! I’m proud to share that my HB 1393 to make DST permanent has passed the TX House. It’s on its way to the TX Senate now!”

A previous KXAN Facebook poll found that over 90% showed preference to staying on one time year-round. The question was which time to choose. While some like to have more light later in the day, others want it brighter in the morning when they, say, take their children to school.

Some lawmakers believe the decision should be left up to the voters. Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo, and Rep. Vikki Goodwin, D–Austin, proposed an amendment that would eliminate the time change and ask Texas voters to choose between observing standard time year-round and observing daylight saving time year-round in a statewide referendum. This proposal has not yet advanced as far in the legislature as HB 1393.