Georgia lawmakers this week rolled out the Georgia Sunshine Protection Act, a proposal that would ask the federal government to keep the state on a single time year round. The idea is to shift Georgia into Atlantic Standard Time, which would effectively lock the state onto what is now daylight saving time and, supporters say, end the twice yearly ritual of changing clocks.
Sen. Bo Hatchett, R-Cornelia, is sponsoring the measure and told Channel 2 that he has received "a lot of support" and that the bill would "get us there faster" if Congress approves year round daylight saving, as reported by WSB-TV. The station notes that the bill language would ask the U.S. secretary of transportation to place Georgia in Atlantic Standard Time and make the state "exempt from the advancement of clocks by one hour during designated periods."
Why Congress Still Matters
Under current federal law, states cannot unilaterally adopt year round daylight saving time, because that authority falls under the Uniform Time Act of 1966. A Congressional Research Service report on Congress.gov explains why many state measures are written "subject to congressional authorization," noting that any lasting changes to standard and daylight time are ultimately controlled at the federal level.
Backstory: Georgia's 2021 Vote
The new push echoes an earlier effort. In 2021 the Georgia General Assembly passed a law that would set the state to permanent daylight saving time if Congress authorizes such a change, and Gov. Brian Kemp signed that bill. WSB-TV covered the signing and noted that the measure left Georgia ready on paper but still dependent on federal action in practice.
What Atlantic Standard Time Would Mean
Atlantic Standard Time (AST) sits one hour ahead of Eastern Standard Time and is used in parts of eastern Canada and in U.S. territories such as Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Timeanddate notes that AST covers all or parts of four Canadian provinces, which is why supporters say asking the Department of Transportation for the change could help Georgia stay aligned with broader transportation and economic systems.
Where This Fits Nationally
Statehouses across the country have tried a mix of fixes, from laws that would lock a state on daylight time if Congress allows it to proposals that ask officials to request placement in a different time zone. The National Conference of State Legislatures tracks dozens of such bills and shows that this contingent, cooperative approach is common among states looking to end the biannual clock change.
What Happens Next
The Georgia bill must still move through committees and both chambers of the General Assembly before it could reach the governor, and even passage at the state level would likely still require congressional action to make any practical change statewide. Supporters say the measure would end a twice yearly annoyance and keep Georgia synchronized with national systems, while critics warn it could produce darker winter mornings and complicate local schedules.
