KXAN.com

State lawmakers will debate the merits of daylight saving time in a legislative hearing. Bills to exempt Texas from the time change are not new to the legislature, but the renewed push has gained momentum this session. With the "spring forward" time change that took effect on March 11, Texans switched to a "lighter later" and "darker earlier" day. House Bill 49 would keep Texas in Central Standard Time, which most people associate as lighter, "earlier" mornings. State Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, filed a resolution that would put the decision in the hands of Texas voters. According to Bettencourt, one of the justifications for keeping Daylight Saving Time is it reduces energy consumption.