No — Texas is not enacting permanent daylight saving time in 2026, at least not yet. While the state has a law ready to go, it remains contingent on federal legislation that has passed the US House but is still stalled in the Senate.

Texas's "Trigger Law" Explained

In the 89th Legislative Session last year, the Texas Legislature passed House Bill 1393, authored by Rep. Will Metcalf (R-Conroe), which Gov. Greg Abbott signed on June 20, 2025. The bill would put Texas on daylight saving time year-round, eliminating the twice-yearly clock change — with the state's standard time to be officially called "Texas Time." Under the bill, the majority of Texas would remain on Central Time, while Hudspeth and El Paso counties would continue on Mountain Time.

Why It Can't Take Effect on Its Own

Crucially, HB 1393 is what's known as a "trigger law" — it cannot take effect unless Congress first changes federal law to allow states to observe daylight saving time permanently. Under the Uniform Time Act of 1966, states can choose to opt out of daylight saving time entirely and observe standard time year-round (as Arizona and Hawaii do), but they cannot currently choose to observe permanent daylight saving time without congressional authorization. Texas joins at least 18 to 19 other states with similar trigger laws already on the books, all waiting on the same federal green light.

Where the Federal Bill Stands

The Sunshine Protection Act, which would grant states this authority, passed the US House on July 14, 2026, by a vote of 308-117, with the majority of the Texas congressional delegation voting in favor. Notably, seven Texas representatives voted against it: Democrats Greg Casar, Lloyd Doggett, Veronica Escobar, Sylvia Garcia, and Marc Veasey, along with Republicans Chip Roy and Keith Self. The bill has since moved to the Senate, where it faces significant resistance and has not yet been brought to a vote.

Why the Senate Is Hesitant

Several senators and policy experts have raised concerns that permanent daylight saving time could mean darker winter mornings, particularly in northern states, potentially forcing children to head to school before sunrise. Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) has been among the most vocal skeptics, arguing: "If permanent daylight savings time becomes the law of the land, it will again make winter a dark and dismal time for millions of Americans," adding it would mean "depriving Americans of morning sunshine that's essential for our safety and well-being."

Texas Support for the Change

Support for ending the clock change runs deep among Texas officials. Metcalf described the rationale behind the state law: "Many Texans and lawmakers believe that maintaining a single, consistent time year-round would reduce confusion, enhance safety, and improve quality of life." Texas Sen. Ted Cruz voiced support for ending the biannual clock changes back in April 2025, calling the practice an "outdated" ritual. President Donald Trump has also publicly backed the Sunshine Protection Act.

An Alternative Bill Also in Play

Adding another wrinkle to the debate, a separate bill called the Sunshine for Our Kids Act, introduced by Reps. Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA) and Pat Harrigan (R-NC), would instead make permanent standard time — rather than permanent daylight saving time — the law of the land, reflecting the ongoing disagreement in Congress over which direction to lock the clock.

A Long History of False Starts

This isn't the first time the Sunshine Protection Act has advanced partway through Congress only to stall. The bill passed the US Senate unanimously in 2022, but the House never took it up, and it was never signed into law. It was reintroduced and debated again in 2025, and once again stalled — a pattern of repeated momentum without final passage that has now continued into 2026.

What This Means for This Year's Clock Change

Because the Sunshine Protection Act has not yet passed the Senate or been signed into law, daylight saving time will end as scheduled on Sunday, November 1, 2026, at 2 a.m., when clocks fall back one hour to 1 a.m. — meaning Texans, like the rest of the country outside Arizona and Hawaii, will still be changing their clocks this fall regardless of the state's pending trigger law.

What's Next

With the bill's fate resting entirely with the Senate, and vocal opposition from senators like Cotton showing no signs of fading, it remains uncertain whether "Texas Time" will take effect before next year's spring-forward date in March 2027, let alone before this November's fall-back transition. For continuing updates on the bill's status, see the official congressional tracker at Congress.gov.