As a resident of Texas, I've come to appreciate the simple joy of basking in the beautiful Texan weather - especially on the cooler days that winter brings. Unfortunately, these moments are fleeting due to current daylight savings time practices. With the clock moving back an hour in the fall, it means most of us return from work or school only to be greeted by the darkness. For many Texans, weekdays become devoid of the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors and the weather conditions so eagerly awaited for during the scorching Texas summer. As many know, Texas winters can often be what other states call their Fall or Spring weather. For us Texans, this is the time to enjoy being outside.

My proposal is that we get rid of the “Fall back” time, which converts back to standard time. This is the portion of daylight savings that gives us less daylight— with the sun setting at 5:30 rather than 6:30pm. If we do one last “Spring forward” and no more “Fall backs” then we’re able to keep the extra hour of daylight after the Fall. In the past, Texas has introduced bills regarding the abolishment of daylight savings in Texas, but the disagreement about whether to keep the Daylight savings time or Standard time was where the bill halted each time. While I suggest getting rid of daylight savings as a practice, the actual timeline of daylight savings is the one Texas should keep in order to get that extra hour of daylight in the fall/winter. 

Texas, with its diverse weather patterns, warrants an approach different from states with milder summers. The existing Daylight Saving Time (DST) practice does little good for its residents. In fact, the Department of Energy's study in 2008 found that DST resulted in only about 0.03% energy savings, which is not a significant impact. The American Psychological Association also highlights the possible disruption of circadian rhythms and sleep, which can negatively affect our health.

Without DST, during the winter months, the sun would set around 6:30 PM rather than 5:30 PM. This change would provide Texans with an additional hour of daylight after their usual working hours, allowing more time to be active outdoors, boost mental health, and improve overall wellbeing.

By signing this petition, you are supporting the abolishment of Daylight Saving Time in Texas, and in doing so, you are advocating for better lifestyles, improved health, and added happiness in the lives of millions of Texans. Together, we can bring about this change for a brighter and healthier Texas. Please sign and share widely.