Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Time Observance Referendum topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
West Cantrell introduces bill to put nonbinding daylight‑time referendum on Georgia ballot; committee asks for more study
Summary
Representative West Cantrell told the State Planning & Community Affairs committee that House Bill 709 would place a nonbinding referendum on the general election ballot asking Georgians whether to keep the current clock system, adopt year‑round standard time, or prefer year‑round daylight saving time; members pressed for more research and business testimony and took no vote.
Representative West Cantrell introduced House Bill 709 to the State Planning & Community Affairs committee, asking lawmakers to place a nonbinding referendum on the general election ballot to record voters’ preferences on whether Georgia should keep its current clock system, adopt year‑round standard time, or adopt year‑round daylight saving time.
"I introduced two bills…one would have kept our state in standard time year round, [and] one that would have taken us to daylight saving time year round," Representative West Cantrell said, and he described a social‑media poll of about 1,000 respondents in which "right around 90% said, 'I don't care which one. Just pick one and stop changing the time.'" Cantrell said roughly 70% of those respondents favored year‑round daylight saving time.
Cantrell argued more evening daylight can benefit public health and the economy and cited studies he said show safety and health impacts from the biannual clock change. "The University of Colorado just recently…found a 6% increase in fatal car accidents the week following spring forward," he said, and he referenced research he said links the shift to sleep disruption and higher near‑term cardiac risk.
He framed HB 709 as a nonbinding referendum intended to educate the public and measure statewide preference before any statutory change. Cantrell cautioned that Georgia "does not have the authority to switch to daylight saving time year round without congressional authorization," and he noted other states have recently moved in that direction.
Committee members asked questions about likely effects and next steps. Representative Deborah Silcox said she worried about business ties and asked whether changing Georgia’s clocks would disadvantage commerce with New York and Washington, D.C.; Cantrell said aligning with major business hubs is a legitimate concern but argued states can and do adapt. Representative Scott Turner urged the committee to study impacts on youth sports and recreation, noting that summer‑time daylight supports outdoor activities.
Chairman Pruitt said the committee should ensure voters are educated before a referendum and asked Cantrell to provide charts and talking points. Cantrell agreed to distribute materials and noted he had copies available and would email them to members. The chair also requested outreach to business stakeholders so testimony could be collected at a future hearing.
No committee vote was taken on HB 709 at the hearing. Representative Camia Hopson moved to adjourn and the committee recessed with a plan to schedule a subsequent hearing to gather more information and testimony.
What happens next: The committee left the matter open for further study and asked the sponsor to provide explanatory materials and to solicit business testimony before the next meeting.
