SENATE BILL 287

56th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2023

INTRODUCED BY

Cliff R. Pirtle

 

 

 

 

 

AN ACT

RELATING TO TIME; EXEMPTING THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO FROM THE REVERSION TO STANDARD TIME FROM DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME WHEN FEDERAL LAW IS AMENDED TO AUTHORIZE A STATE TO EXEMPT ITSELF OR A PART OF ITSELF, OR TO AUTHORIZE COUNTIES TO EXEMPT THEMSELVES, FROM REVERTING TO STANDARD TIME AND ACCORDINGLY EITHER THE STATE OF TEXAS EXEMPTS ITSELF OR A PART OF ITSELF CONTAINING EL PASO COUNTY, TEXAS, FROM REVERTING TO STANDARD TIME OR THE COUNTY COMMISSION OF EL PASO COUNTY, TEXAS, EXEMPTS THE COUNTY FROM REVERTING TO STANDARD TIME.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

     SECTION 1. [NEW MATERIAL] FINDINGS.--The legislature finds that:

          A. the federal Uniform Time Act of 1966, Public Law 89-387, was enacted by congress to "promote the adoption and observance of uniform time within the standard time zones" of the United States and established an annual advancement from standard time in March of each year, commonly called "daylight saving time", and an annual return to standard time approximately eight months later;

          B. federal law authorizes a state that is entirely situated within one time zone to exempt itself from the annual requirement to advance time for daylight saving as long as it does so uniformly as an entire state; and

          C. the freight rail-connected economic sectors in southern New Mexico and El Paso, Texas, are linked.

     SECTION 2. [NEW MATERIAL] DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME EXEMPTION.--The state exempts itself from reverting to standard time after advancing to daylight saving time, and the time in New Mexico shall be mountain daylight saving time.

     SECTION 3. CONTINGENT EFFECTIVE DATE.--The effective date of the provisions of this act is November 3, 2024; provided that the United States secretary of transportation certifies to the New Mexico compilation commission and the legislative council service that federal law has been enacted that authorizes a state to exempt itself or a part of itself, or allows a county to exempt itself, from reverting to standard time and pursuant to that authorization:

          A. the state of Texas has enacted a law exempting itself or a part of itself that includes the county of El Paso, Texas, from reverting to standard time; or

          B. the county commission of El Paso county, Texas, has enacted an ordinance exempting itself from reverting to standard time.

- 3 -