Representative West Cantrell proposes nonbinding referendum on year‑round daylight saving time

Representative West Cantrell introduced House Bill 709 (LC460236S) on behalf of his district, asking lawmakers to put a nonbinding referendum on the fall general-election ballot so voters can state whether they prefer the current biannual clock change, year‑round standard time, or year‑round daylight saving time.

"I'm asking you to consider a nonbinding referendum," Representative West Cantrell said, urging the committee to use the ballot to gauge public preference before pursuing any statutory change. He cited constituent polling and several studies he said show health and safety effects from the twice‑annual switch, including an asserted 6% increase in fatal car accidents the week after springing forward and a study he described as showing a 24% rise in heart attacks after that change.

The proposal would not itself move Georgia to year‑round daylight saving time; Cantrell acknowledged the state lacks authority to adopt daylight saving time year‑round without congressional approval and said the referendum would merely collect public preference ahead of any future legislative proposal.

Chairman Pruitt framed the session as a "hearing only" meeting meant to educate the committee and to solicit stakeholder input before the panel makes any recommendation. "We need to be educated first," the chairman said, urging members to gather materials that explain how proposed changes would affect business hours, school schedules and cross‑border commerce.

Several members pressed Cantrell on potential impacts. Representative Deborah Silcox, who identified herself as the representative for District 52, said she was concerned about businesses and the state’s relationship with financial centers such as New York and Washington, D.C., if Georgia shifted its clock policy. "Would this put us in a lesser position in any way, particularly our relationship with New York and Washington DC?" Silcox asked.

Representative Scott Turner asked the committee to consider youth‑sports scheduling and safety, noting sports such as baseball require daylight and time changes could force practices or games into different hours or require lighting. Representative Dewey McCloud asked Cantrell to consider adding a provision for the Monday after the Super Bowl — which he called "Super Monday" — to address a predictable holiday impact; Cantrell said he would consider the amendment.

Cantrell said he had informally polled constituents on social media, reporting more than 1,000 responses with roughly 90% saying they were tired of switching and about 70% preferring year‑round daylight saving time among those who expressed a specific choice. He also said Florida and South Carolina have moved toward proposals like this and that he hoped a growing number of states would pressure Congress to act.

No business groups were present to testify during the hearing; Chairman Pruitt asked members to solicit stakeholder feedback and suggested Cantrell distribute charts showing sunrise and sunset shifts to help voters and the committee visualize impacts.

The committee took no formal action on HB 709; Chairman Pruitt said the panel will schedule a follow‑up meeting as a next step to gather more information. Representative Camia Hopson moved to adjourn the session; the motion was seconded and the committee adjourned without a vote on the measure.

Key details reported during the hearing include the bill’s substitute identifier (LC460236S), the sponsor's request for a nonbinding referendum, the sponsor’s cited polls and research, and multiple members’ requests for additional data and business testimony before any recommendation or statutory change.

The committee is expected to reconvene for additional hearings and information‑gathering on HB 709; no timeline for formal committee action was set at this hearing.