State Rep. Jason Isaac, R-Dripping Springs, has proposed legislation that would put an end to the biannual practice of setting clocks forward and backward known as daylight saving time.

“Imagine that it’s 2017, and lawmakers have for the first time proposed arbitrarily changing our clocks twice a year. They would be publicly ridiculed,” Isaac said in a news release. “The fact is, daylight saving time is an antiquated regulation that no longer serves our state’s needs.”

Isaac called daylight saving time “an annoyance at best and a burden to our state at worst.”

If approved by the House and Senate, the legislation would take effect Nov. 5, which is daylight saving time.

Texas would then join portions of Arizona and Hawaii as the other U.S. states that do not recognize Daylight Saving Time.

As an impetus for the legislation, Isaac cited studies indicating daylight saving time leads to more car accidents and heart attacks, as well as consequences such as lost productivity at work, school and elsewhere stemming from fatigue, decreased alertness, decreased motivation and tardiness.

A 2016 study from the American Academy of Neurology found that the rate of a specific type of stroke was 8 percent higher for two days following daylight saving time than other days of the year.

The study also found that people with cancer were 25 percent more likely to have a stroke within the two days following a daylight saving time. People 65 and older were 20 percent more likely to have a stroke during that period.

A 2012 study at the University of Alabama-Birmingham found a 10 increase in heart attacks during the two days following daylight saving time.

Researchers suspect disruption of the circadian rhythm—also known as the internal body clock—may be partially to blame.

According to the legislation text, the entire state—including the portions using Central Standard Time and Mountain Standard Time as the official standard time—would opt out of daylight saving time.

Rep. Dan Flynn, R-Canton, filed HB 150, which also would have abolished daylight saving time.

During that session, legislators voiced concerns ranging from children’s safety to potential conflicts between football games and church services.

If clocks were permanently set back one hour, Sunday football games that normally start at noon would begin at 11 a.m., when many church are still holding services.

“I don’t want to miss church, and I don’t want to miss the Cowboys,” Rep. Rafael Anchia, D-Dallas, said, according to multiple news outlets. “So what am I supposed to do?”

HB 150 was ultimately voted down 56-79 in the House during the 84th legislative session, but Isaac said he believes it is time for Texas to move forward from daylight saving time.

Isaac said although he hopes to get HB 2400 signed into law, the Legislature also has more pressing matters.

"It's something that's not a legislative priority," he said. "We have to pass the budget. That's one thing we have to do. But I have several constituents who are extremely passionate about this issue."

News and notes from the capitol

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