SB2029 - Relating to authorizing a statewide referendum allowing voters to indicate a preference for observing year-round standard time or daylight saving time.

  89R2004 MCK-D     By: Bettencourt S.B. No. 2029       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to authorizing a statewide referendum allowing voters to   indicate a preference for observing year-round standard time or   daylight saving time.          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 4, 2025, 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 89th Legislature, Regular Session, 2025, 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, 2026, and Section 2 of   this Act does not take effect.          (b)  If the constitutional amendment proposed by the 89th   Legislature, Regular Session, 2025, 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, 2025.          (b)  This Act takes effect only if the 89th Legislature,   Regular Session, 2025, proposes a constitutional amendment   authorizing a statewide referendum allowing voters to indicate a   preference for observing year-round standard time or daylight   saving time.  If the 89th Legislature, Regular Session, 2025, does   not propose such a constitutional amendment, this Act has no   effect.          (c) Section 4 of this Act and, subject to Section 4, Sections   1 and 2 of this Act take effect only if the constitutional amendment   proposed by the 89th Legislature, Regular Session, 2025,   authorizing a statewide referendum allowing voters to indicate a   preference for observing year-round standard time or 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.