Sen. Bettencourt: Let Texans decide on Daylight Saving Time

Daylight Saving Time begins at 2 a.m. Sunday, March 10, 2019. Daylight Saving Time begins at 2 a.m. Sunday, March 10, 2019. Photo: Courtesy Photo: Courtesy Image 1 of / 27 Caption Close Sen. Bettencourt: Let Texans decide on Daylight Saving Time 1 / 27 Back to Gallery

This weekend marks the beginning of Daylight Saving Time, the annual time when most U.S. residents move their clocks an hour forward until returning to standard time on Nov. 3.

The annual “spring forward” is not observed in Arizona or Hawaii.

In Texas, State Sen. Paul Bettencourt (R-Houston) filed Senate Joint Resolution 59 which would allow Texans to vote on eliminating Daylight Saving Time.

“When you think of hot button public policy issues what usually comes to mind are things such as property tax relief and school finance and pension reform,” Bettencourt said. “However, the issue of Daylight Saving Time has roused passions on both sides of the debate for over 100 years. Giving Texans the opportunity to vote on the issue will settle the debate once and for all in the Lone Star State!”

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According to Bettencourt, SJR 59 would apply to all portions of Texas using Central Standard Time as well as Mountain Standard Time. While most of Texas is on Central Time, far west Texas — including El Paso — are on Mountain Time.

If the resolution passes, the bill would require a vote on the Nov. 5, 2019, general election where Texas voters would decide whether or not to abolish Daylight Saving Time. If approved by the voters, the change would take effect in 2020.

In 2016, State Sen. Jose Menendez of San Antonio filed a bill to remove the need for Texan to adjust their clock for daylight saving. The bill was benched and moved to the State Affairs committee for further discussion.

Benjamin Franklin first proposed a form of daylight time in 1784 in his essay “An Economical Project for Diminishing the Cost of Light,” written to the editor of “The Journal of Paris.”

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Daylight Saving Time was first enacted in the U.S. during World War I but was repealed in 1919. It was restarted during World War II but again repealed three weeks after the end of the war. Congress passed the Uniform Time Act in 1966, which allows states to remain on standard time if they wish.

“Brighter evenings may save on electric lighting, said Stanton Hadley, a senior researcher at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, who helped prepare a report to Congress on extended daylight saving time in 2007,” LiveScience.com reported. “But lights have become increasingly efficient, Hadley said, so lighting is responsible for a smaller chunk of total energy consumption than it was a few decades ago. Heating and cooling probably matter more, and some places may need air-conditioning for the longer, hotter evenings of summer daylight saving time.”

As for Texas, Bettencourt simply wants state voters to have a say.

“I have advocated for a public policy of ‘let the people vote’ when it comes to pension obligation bonds and rollback elections regarding their property tax bills,” Bettencourt said. “The issue of Daylight Saving Time is no different. Let the people vote and trust their vote.”

rkent@hcnonline.com