Committee advances bill to position Georgia for permanent daylight saving time pending Congress

The State Planning & Community Affairs committee voted by voice to advance HB 44, a short bill that would move Georgia to permanent daylight saving time if and when Congress grants states the authority to choose that option.

Representative Cantrell, sponsor of HB 44, told the committee the bill is designed to be a trigger: "HB 44 would take Georgia to permanent daylight saving time pending congressional approval." He framed the measure as a way to end twice-yearly clock changes that he said harm public health and safety and harm commerce.

Cantrell summarized a range of research findings he said supported the change, telling members that some studies link clock shifts to spikes in fatal car crashes and medical harms. He said his informal constituency polling favored permanent daylight saving time and that groups such as teachers' organizations and the Georgia Farm Bureau had expressed support.

Lawmakers pressed Cantrell on practical and jurisdictional issues. Representative Jackson and others asked whether the bill would create a patchwork of time policies if neighboring states acted differently and whether federal approval could be obtained. Cantrell acknowledged the need for a federal trigger and said past bipartisan proposals had not cleared Congress but that a block of Southeastern states moving together could add urgency.

After questions and discussion, the committee chair put a motion to give HB 44 a "do pass." The committee voted by voice; several members said "aye" and Representative Jackson recorded a "nay." Chair Matheak announced, "the ayes have it," advancing the bill out of committee.

Cantrell told members after the vote that he could provide the committee with the research underlying his presentation and offered to send the materials to the chair.

What's next: HB 44 will await further consideration in the legislative process; Cantrell and several members said congressional action is required before the state could implement permanent daylight saving time.