Bill Text: TX HB1931 | 2023-2024 | 88th 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: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 6-2)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2023-03-08 - Referred to State Affairs [HB1931 Detail]
Download: Texas-2023-HB1931-Introduced.html
| 88R3746 MCK-D | ||
| By: Rogers | H.B. No. 1931 | |
|
|
||
|
|
||
| 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 7, 2023, 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 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 1 of this Act takes effect January 1, 2024, 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 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, 2023. | ||
| (b) This Act takes effect only if the 88th Legislature, | ||
| Regular Session, 2023, proposes a constitutional amendment | ||
| authorizing a referendum election on the issue of daylight saving | ||
| time. If the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023, does not | ||
| propose such a constitutional amendment, this Act has no effect. | ||
| (c) Sections 1, 2, 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 1, 2, and 4 of this Act have | ||
| no effect. | ||
