Senator Zaffirini Wants to Abolish Daylight Saving Time in Texas

AUSTIN - Senator Judith Zaffirini was one of the first individuals to pre-file bills for the 87th Texas Legislative Session last Monday (November 9). The pandemic didn’t hinder Zaffirini and her staff to work harder than before. She pre-filed 34 bills that reflect her advocacy to prioritize education, health, human services, and judicial reform.

According to Zaffirini, the pandemic has caused her and her staff to work harder because she understood the urgency to address them. Among the bills, she has filed the termination of Daylight Savings Time (DST) in Texas. Since the bill was pre-filed, voters now can end DST in Texas or keep the time changes twice a year. 

Some people are in favor of the Daylight Saving Time, but others believe DST causes adverse effects. One of DST’s negative effects is delaying Texas’s sunrises for almost five months. It is because it would be from 8:40 am to 9 am on Christmas morning. Changing time can also affect the body clock of an individual. During the Daylight Saving Time transitions, the average sleep duration decreases by 15-20 minutes for adults. It affects the quality of sleep a person has, increasing the risks of heart attacks and strokes. 

Zaffirini is delighted to advance her ambitious plan to commensurate with Texas’ potential. She is looking forward to collaborating with her colleagues on both sides to adequately address the issues that can help build a safer and more prosperous Texas. Although it will take time to determine what will happen to bills, some want DST to end. This way, they don’t have to deal with body clock changes every year.