Panel advances substitute to make Georgia daylight saving time permanent pending Congress

The State Planning & Community Affairs committee on an evening voice vote approved a committee substitute for Senate Bill 100 that adopts the language of House Bill 44 to move Georgia to permanent daylight saving time, contingent on congressional approval. Chairman Cantrell said he was representing Senator Watson, who was out of town, and asked the panel to pass the substitute so the legislature could act before the end of the session.

"The respondents preferred daylight saving time by a margin of 5 to 1. It was not close," Chairman Cantrell said, citing a nationwide Politico survey he said had about 2,000 respondents. He told the committee that the Senate had placed the House language into its version and that the committee was operating off LC 4604 78S.

The request to adopt the House substitute drew a brief business-community appearance. Scott McGregor, who identified himself as representing the Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce and Texas Specialty Vehicles, told the committee the original Senate language in SB 100 raised concerns for locally based and globally connected businesses in his area. "The senate language that was...currently in SB 100 is extremely problematic for anybody who lives in our community," McGregor said, urging members to support the change to the House draft.

The chair entertained a motion by Representative Duke, which was seconded by Representative Camp, to "do pass by committee" the substitute. The committee approved the motion by voice vote; the transcript records the motion carried but does not include a roll-call tally. The committee indicated the matter will proceed next on the legislative schedule with the substitute language now adopted at the committee level.