Bill would move Georgia to new time zone, end biannual clock change
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Twice a year, we dread adjusting our internal and external clocks to reflect whether we're in standard or daylight saving time.
- One Georgia legislator's solution: place the state into a completely different time zone and leave the clocks alone for good.
The latest: The state Senate on Monday passed legislation that would ask the U.S. transportation secretary to move Georgia from the Eastern time zone to the Atlantic time zone, which is one hour ahead.
- Georgia would observe Atlantic Standard Time year round, according to the bill, instead of switching to daylight saving time every March.
What they're saying: According to WABE, Sen. Bo Hatchett (R-Cornelia) said teachers "talk about how it disrupts their schedules with their students."
- "So I think an overwhelming majority of Georgians would prefer to stop the change," he told WABE.
Context: All or parts of Canadian provinces Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Labrador fall within the Atlantic time zone.
The big picture: 19 states, including Georgia, have passed laws for permanent daylight saving time, but they can't act without Congress — and federal efforts have stalled.
- Overall, 35 states considered resolutions related to daylight saving time last year — with a portion of those bills connected to permanent standard time — according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
Zoom in: Health groups and sleep experts have called for an end to the seasonal shifting of clocks, Axios' Kelly Tyko reports.
- Most experts support staying in standard time permanently over daylight saving time.
- The March "spring forward" is linked to an increase in car accidents, heart attacks and strokes.
The intrigue: Over the last several years, legislators in Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts have floated the idea of moving from Eastern to Atlantic time zones.
- In 2019, Delaware's governor signed into law a bill that would move the state into the time zone — only if Maryland, New Jersey and Pennsylvania did the same.
Kristal's thought bubble: If we were to move to Atlantic time, it sounds like we would be in daylight time all year long since our clocks would stay one hour ahead.