Texas Gov. Abbott Signs Early Voting, Permanent Daylight Saving Laws

Texas Governor Greg Abbott has signed several significant bills affecting the state in 2025, including a new voting law and a daylight saving time measure. The voting law, SB 2753, shifts the start of early voting later but extends voting to weekends and holidays up to the day before Election Day, though it may delay election results. Abbott also signed HB 1393, allowing Texas to adopt permanent daylight saving time, but the change will only take effect if Congress authorizes year-round daylight saving time nationally, as current federal law mandates biannual clock changes. Additionally, Abbott vetoed 26 bills during the legislative session and announced a special session starting July 21 to reconsider some, including a bill banning THC-derived product sales, which faced criticism from Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick for the veto. Beyond these, Abbott signed over a thousand bills addressing diverse issues such as educational support programs for students with intellectual disabilities and water infrastructure improvements. These legislative actions reflect ongoing debates in Texas over election procedures, time observance, and public health policies, with some measures pending federal approval or further legislative consideration.