It's a cold Thursday night and Sami Robertson just wants to do homework. She has already finished her race, but the track team bus won't return to Las Plumas High School until everyone is done competing.

As soon as she gets home, her second race -- the race to bed -- begins.

The 16-year-old has to finish her homework before she can go to sleep. With multiple homework assignments due each day, Sami is bound to stay up late. When she finally gets to go to bed, she sets her alarm for 6 a.m. to repeat the cycle.

Sami's story isn't unique. All around the state, students are working late and missing out on an important need: sleep. But newly introduced legislation is set to change that.

State Sen. Anthony Portantino (D-La Caňada Flintridge) has introduced a bill into the California Senate that would push back start times for middle and high schools to no earlier than 8:30 a.m.

It would require schools to change the start time by July 1, 2022, with rural schools being eligible for an extension. Butte County is not considered a rural county.

Portantino is using more than 30 years of research and the results from 400 schools already on the later schedule.

The senator explained that test scores go up and suicide rates go down when teens are allowed more sleep. Schools with later times reported having better sports participation with fewer injuries as well.

Not everyone thinks it's a good idea.

“There's an opposition out there that wants this to remain a local issue, and there's a time and place to make that local argument,” Sen. Portantino said. “As a public health crisis, it's appropriate for the state to set minimum standards based on public health needs.”

Last year, this bill was approved through both houses of Legislature but was vetoed by Gov. Jerry Brown for being a “one-size-fits-all plan.” Brown said the bill wasn't flexible enough for the urban and rural schools it would affect.

“I think there needs to be an option for parents,” said Gary Loustale, a Chico High teacher. “Some parents can't do it. They're going to bring their kids early; they have a work schedule.”

SB328 hasn't seen much change since last year, but with the new governor, Gavin Newsom, the bill may have a second chance.

“We’re pushing school times later. (When) it comes to our athletic programs, that means we’ll also be starting their practice times later, which means they'll end up getting done later,” said Jay Merchant, the director of secondary and alternative schools for the Chico school district.

Practice times matter a lot when you take into consideration gym sports that need to share a gymnasium.

When practices are pushed back, athletes like Sami are still staying up late with practice.

Sami doesn't want school times to be pushed back.

“I don't agree with school starting later,” Sami said. ”Because they (school) would have to end later, which would push my practices and games even later, and I would stay up doing homework later than I already do.”

The school cannot make a start time that is perfect for everyone.

Bussing is another consideration when talking about changing the start times. Before the bill was vetoed last year, Chico Unified started looking whether the district could manage a new influx of bus riders.

Mandy Wallis, a parent of two girls, said she is going to have to find a new way to get her kids to school if SB328 is passed.

“As a working parent of two young girls, my morning routine will be affected by not allowing myself to take my girls to school,” Wallis said.

Still, she supports the bill.

“Their young minds are still developing, and with the additional sleep I feel they’ll be ready to support that academic rigor that is needed,” Wallis said.

With SB328 only being reintroduced two weeks ago, it has a month of waiting before being moved to a committee to be discussed more.

“Next month, the committee hearings will start, and we’ll continue to work this through the process,”  Portatino said.