Georgia Considers Permanent Daylight Saving Time

State legislature passes bill to move to Atlantic Time Zone, eliminating biannual clock changes.

Mar. 30, 2026 at 9:54pm

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A serene, cinematic painting of an old clock tower in a quaint Georgia town, its face illuminated by warm, angled sunlight casting deep shadows across the scene, conveying a sense of timeless community and the potential impact of ending daylight saving time shifts.As Georgia considers eliminating biannual clock changes, a nostalgic scene captures the timeless rhythm of a small-town community.Columbus Today

The Georgia Senate has passed a bill known as the 'Georgia Sunshine Protection Act' that would establish year-round daylight saving time in the state. The bill requires Georgia to petition the U.S. Department of Transportation to move from the Eastern Time Zone to the Atlantic Time Zone, which is one hour ahead. This would eliminate the need to change clocks twice a year. The bill now heads to the Georgia House for a final vote.

Why it matters

Supporters of the change argue that eliminating biannual clock changes would improve public health by reducing spikes in heart attacks, strokes, and car accidents that often occur after time changes. However, some lawmakers are skeptical that the federal government would approve the time zone shift, and prefer simply returning to standard Eastern Time.

The details

House Bill 154 (HB 154) would permanently end the biannual changing of clocks by switching Georgia to permanent daylight saving time. The bill directs the governor to ask the U.S. Secretary of Transportation to move Georgia into the Atlantic Time Zone, which is one hour ahead of Eastern Standard Time. The Senate passed the bill 45 to 5 on March 23, 2026, and it now heads back to the House for a final vote.

  • The Georgia Senate passed House Bill 154 (HB 154) on March 23, 2026.
  • The bill now heads to the Georgia House for a final vote.

The players

Georgia House of Representatives

The lower chamber of the Georgia state legislature that will vote on the 'Georgia Sunshine Protection Act' bill.

Georgia Senate

The upper chamber of the Georgia state legislature that passed the 'Georgia Sunshine Protection Act' bill by a vote of 45 to 5.

U.S. Department of Transportation

The federal agency that would need to approve Georgia's petition to move from the Eastern Time Zone to the Atlantic Time Zone.

Bruce Williamson

A Republican member of the Georgia House of Representatives who doubts the federal government would approve the time zone shift and prefers simply returning to standard Eastern Time.

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What they’re saying

“As much as I dislike flipping our time zones back and forth, I don't think going to Atlantic Standard time will work, unless all of our neighbor states adjust accordingly. I doubt that the US Department of Transportation would support it either.”

— Bruce Williamson, Georgia State Representative

“I would be fine with simply going back to Eastern Standard time. The evidence is clear that shifting the clock back and forth is dangerous.”

— Bruce Williamson, Georgia State Representative

What’s next

The Georgia House of Representatives will now vote on the 'Georgia Sunshine Protection Act' bill that has already passed the state Senate. If the House approves the bill, it will then go to the governor for signature before the state can petition the U.S. Department of Transportation to shift Georgia to the Atlantic Time Zone.

The takeaway

The debate over permanent daylight saving time in Georgia highlights the ongoing national discussion around the merits of biannual clock changes and the challenges of coordinating time zone shifts across state lines. While supporters argue the change would improve public health, skeptics doubt the federal government will approve Georgia's proposed time zone move without neighboring states making similar adjustments.