The Georgia House of Representatives will take up a bill that could end daylight saving time in the Peach State. Senate Bill 100 would require Georgia to observe standard time year-round until Congress authorizes the states to observe daylight saving time [year-round].
The Senate approved the measure Wednesday, 46-7.
Lawmakers have been talking about getting rid of the twice-annual time change for several years. The bill’s chief sponsor, Sen. Ben Watson (R-Savannah), is a physician. He stressed that moving clocks ahead one hour in March and back an hour in November disrupts sleep, altering the body’s natural biological rhythm, which results in certain physical and mental health issues.
“There’s a significantly higher percentage of heart attacks during the spring-forward time,” Watson said. He also pointed to studies showing an increase in automobile crashes and mood disorders after losing an hour of sleep in the spring. Citing an Association of Psychological Science article, Watson said judges hand down stricter punishments during that time of year. “We have grumpy judges due to sleep deprivation giving harsher sentences.”
Neighboring states
Most of the country adheres to daylight saving time, and it’s been that way for over fifty years. Arizona and Hawaii are the exceptions. Neighboring states Florida, Tennessee, and South Carolina have passed resolutions adopting full-time daylight saving time if and when Congress allows that.
Currently, federal law only allows states to adopt year-round standard time, not DST.
District 41 State Senator Kim Jackson (D-Stone Mountain) pointed out some businesses benefit from extended evening daylight during the spring and summer months. She also raised concerns about the possible effect of getting rid of DST on those suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD.
“I don’t have a dog in the fight about which one [time system] we go to,” said Watson. “What I would like us to recognize and look to is just not changing year-round so that we’re not messing up our circadian rhythms in the spring and in the fall.”
Jackson asked Watson if he’s considered something similar to what neighboring states have approved, “as opposed to making us go to standard time right now?”
“I’ve considered that, but waiting on Congress may be an eternity,” Watson replied.
Last year, Georgia lawmakers voted to put a non-binding referendum on DST on the ballot, but their efforts stalled because of the pandemic. Watson indicated the issue could go to a referendum, or lawmakers could settle the matter outright. The bill now heads to the House for consideration.
