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House floor leader says bill would ask DOT to allow Georgia to observe current daylight time year‑round
Summary
House Bill 154 would petition the U.S. Department of Transportation to let Georgia shift into the Atlantic Time Zone so the state can retain current daylight time year‑round; committee members raised logistical questions about federal coordination and airport operations.
House Bill 154 was presented in the Rules Committee as a measure to permit Georgia to observe the time it now uses in daylight time throughout the year by seeking approval from the U.S. Department of Transportation to move the state into the Atlantic Time Zone.
House floor leader Hatchett told members the bill would not unilaterally override federal law but would petition the U.S. Department of Transportation to change Georgia’s time-zone designation. He told the committee that, though Congress controls daylight‑saving time authority, the state could request action from DOT to shift its time-zone alignment, enabling Georgia to remain on the time currently observed during daylight saving.
Members raised practical questions about the change’s consequences. A senator asked whether the shift would align Georgia with Puerto Rico and some parts of eastern Canada; other members raised concerns about coordination with federal agencies and major transportation hubs, including Hartsfield‑Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Hatchett recommended consulting affected federal and state agencies before moving forward.
The committee recorded the presentation and continued its calendar business; members did not take a final vote on HB 154 in this session.
