Twice a year, we change our clocks. First we spring forward and lose an hour (but gain an hour of sunlight in the evenings), and then we fall back, gaining that hour of sleep back… but making it darker in the evenings faster. Well, that could be a thing of the past, if this new senate-passed bill passes in congress.
House Bill 154, which is also known as the Georgia Sunshine Protection Act, aims to do just that: end daylight saving clock changes. And they’re doing it in a… creative way. Keep scrolling to learn more.
How would this new law stop daylight saving time?
Georgia would be in a new time zone. If the bill is approved by U.S. Congress, then Georgia would move from Eastern Standard Time to Atlantic Standard Time, which is one hour earlier.
So, how does this bill become a law?
The original bill to permanently switch to daylight saving time (and stop changing our clocks) actually passed in 2021, when Governor Kemp signed it.
Now, the bill has officially passed in the Georgia Senate, with a whopping 45 to 5 vote on Monday, March 23rd, 2026. The bill will now move to the House for another vote with the senate’s changes.
The final remaining step requires U.S. Congressional approval, with the approval of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy.
Experts are calling approval unlikely.
Wait… would Georgia be in a different time zone than our neighbors?
Yes. Atlantic Standard Time is one hour ahead of Eastern Standard Time.
If Georgia permanently observes daylight saving time by changing to AST, then there would be a two hour difference between neighboring states Alabama and Tennessee, which still observe Central Standard Time.
As we know updates to this bill, we’ll let you know them too!