Yes, Texas still observes daylight saving time. Clocks in the state spring forward in March and fall back in November, and that will continue until Congress authorizes states to keep DST year-round. Governor Greg Abbott signed a permanent daylight saving time law in June 2025, but it cannot take effect without federal action that hasn’t happened.
The 2026 Time Change Dates in Texas
Clocks moved forward one hour at 2:00 a.m. on Sunday, March 8, 2026, jumping to 3:00 a.m. They fall back one hour at 2:00 a.m. on Sunday, November 1, 2026, reverting to 1:00 a.m.1Time and Date. Time Change 2026 in Texas, United States The dates are set by federal law and apply to every state that observes DST.2eCFR. 49 CFR 71.2 – Annual Advancement of Standard Time
Most of Texas sits in the Central Time Zone. El Paso County and Hudspeth County are in the Mountain Time Zone. Both zones change clocks on the same dates.
Texas Passed a Permanent DST Law, But It Isn’t Active
House Bill 1393, called “Texas Time,” passed the Texas House on April 16, 2025, by a vote of 133–11 and cleared the Senate on May 22, 2025, by 26–5. Governor Abbott signed it on June 20, 2025.3Texas Legislature Online. HB 1393 Bill History, 89th Legislature
The law contains a built-in trigger. It only takes effect if the United States Congress passes legislation authorizing Texas to observe daylight saving time year-round. If Congress never acts, the statute “has no effect.” The law would apply to both the Central and Mountain portions of Texas, and the standard would be known as “Texas Time.”4Texas Legislature Online. HB 1393 Enrolled Version – Bill Text
Texas is one of 19 states that have enacted similar contingent laws, all waiting on the same federal authorization.5National Conference of State Legislatures. Daylight Saving Time State Legislation
Why Texas Can’t Make DST Permanent on Its Own
The Uniform Time Act of 1966 gives states two options: follow the federal DST schedule, or opt out of DST and remain on standard time year-round. The law does not permit a state to lock in permanent daylight saving time on its own.6US Department of Transportation. Uniform Time
Staying on DST year-round would put a state’s clocks one hour ahead of its assigned standard time zone during winter. Only Congress can authorize that shift, which is why Texas and 18 other states have passed laws that sit dormant.
Where the Sunshine Protection Act Stands
The main federal vehicle for permanent DST is the Sunshine Protection Act. The U.S. Senate unanimously passed a version in 2022, but it died in the House without a vote. The bill was reintroduced in the 119th Congress as H.R. 139, the Sunshine Protection Act of 2025, and was referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, where it remains.7Congress.gov. H.R.139 – 119th Congress: Sunshine Protection Act of 2025
Until this or similar legislation passes both chambers and is signed by the president, Texas HB 1393 stays on the books but has no operative effect.
The Opt-Out Alternative
There is one path a state can take without Congress: opting out of daylight saving time entirely and staying on standard time year-round. Under the Uniform Time Act, any state can exempt itself by passing a state law, and states that span two time zones can exempt either the whole state or just the area within a specific time zone.8Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 15 USC 260a – Advancement of Time or Changeover Dates Arizona and Hawaii have done this. Texas has not, and the state law on the books points the other direction, toward permanent DST rather than permanent standard time.