Texas Legislature Passes Full-Time Daylight Saving Time Bill – What Does It Mean?

We seem to have this same discussion at least twice a year. Why can't we stay on Daylight Saving Time? Or, stay on Standard Time? Why do we have to switch back and forth in the spring and fall? Is this switching back and forth healthy?

Last Friday (May 23), the Texas Legislature passed HB 1393 which states that the Great State of Texas will be able to remain on Daylight Saving Time forever.

The bill was authored by Representative Will Metcalf of Conroe and is desinged to keep Texas, all of Texas, including El Paso, currently on Mountain Daylight Time, on what would forever be known as, "Texas Time". aka: Daylight Saving Time.

Everyone Ready To Do Nothing?

Both Houses have passed the Bill, so now it goes to Governor Greg Abbott's desk, where he is expected to sign it. If this is getting you as excited as I am about not having to reset your VCR timer ever again, hang on, there is a catch.

Catch? What Catch?

The catch is "legally", Texas can't "do it" until permission is given to all the states by Congress.  Yes, that Congress, in Washing D.C. Texas and eighteen other states that have already passed similar legislation will have to wait for the ... cluster... in our nation's capital to actually get something done. The Uniform Time Act, passed in 1966, allows states to stay on Standard Time when everyone else goes to DST, but not to remain on Daylight Time when everyone else switches back.

In other words, don't hold your breath fellow Texans, it could be a long wait indeed.

Click here to learn more about the Uniform Time Act.