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For the second time in five years, Georgia lawmakers came tantalizingly close to ending the twice-yearly ritual of springing forward and falling back — only to watch the effort die on the final day of the legislative session.

House Bill 154, the latest attempt to lock the state’s clocks and spare Georgians the biannual disruption, never received final approval before the House and Senate adjourned sine die on Friday, April 3, 2026.

Georgia Daylight Savings Bill Ends in Another Dead End

The measure would have directed Gov. Brian Kemp to petition the Trump administration’s Department of Transportation to shift Georgia out of the Eastern Time Zone and into the Atlantic Standard Time Zone.

Had it succeeded, the state would have observed a permanent UTC-4 year-round — the functional equivalent of keeping daylight saving time (DST) in place 365 days a year without ever having to “fall back.”

Sen. Ed Setzler (R), one of the few opponents in the 45-5 Senate vote, has said it wouldn’t work from the jump.

“If Georgia made the move on its own it would be highly disruptive to business and logistics… By moving us to the Atlantic time zone, if Alabama didn’t move, we would have a two-hour separation from Alabama.”

The bill’s demise marks the latest chapter in a decade-plus saga of Georgia lawmakers trying — and failing — to escape federal rules that keep most of the country toggling between standard and daylight time.

A Persistent Push Since 2019

The modern campaign began in earnest in 2019 when Rep. Wes Cantrell, R-Woodstock, filed legislation to exempt Georgia from DST and stay on permanent standard time.

He followed up in 2020 with a resolution urging Congress to let states choose permanent DST instead. Neither went anywhere.

In 2021, the debate reached a fever pitch on the final day of session. The Senate first passed a bill for permanent standard time, then reversed itself and voted 45-6 to adopt permanent daylight saving time — provided Congress ever gave the green light.

The so-called Georgia Sunshine Protection Act passed both chambers but has sat dormant ever since because federal law still prohibits states from unilaterally choosing permanent DST. Only permanent standard time is currently allowed without Washington’s blessing.

Fast-forward to 2025-2026. Frustrated by congressional inaction, sponsors tried a creative workaround. HB 154 — originally an unrelated ambulance-services bill — was stripped and rewritten in the Senate to request the time-zone shift to Atlantic Standard Time. The Senate passed the amended version 45-5 in late March.

Supporters, including Sen. Bo Hatchett, argued the change would eliminate confusion for families, schools, and businesses while delivering the health and safety benefits long associated with year-round later sunsets.

“Every time we change the clock, we create confusion for families, for businesses, for schools, and for anyone trying to maintain a consistent routine,” Hatchett said. And for what? The evidence that this system does what it was originally intended to do is weak at best. But the evidence that it disrupts people’s lives, that is overwhelming.”

Why It Matters — and Why It Keeps Failing

Georgia is far from alone. Nineteen states, including several in the South, have passed similar “trigger” bills waiting on Congress to allow permanent DST nationwide.

The federal Uniform Time Act of 1966 (updated in 2005) still ties states’ hands: they can opt out of DST entirely and stay on standard time, but they cannot choose permanent daylight without explicit congressional approval.

That legal reality has forced Georgia into repeated procedural gymnastics — resolutions, referendums, trigger bills, and now the Atlantic Time Zone petition — all of which have ultimately stalled.Critics of the status quo point to peer-reviewed studies linking the spring-forward change to spikes in heart attacks, traffic accidents, workplace injuries, and lost productivity.

Supporters of the current system counter that permanent DST would mean dark winter mornings for children heading to school and farmers starting their day in pitch blackness.

Whatever the merits, the practical result for Georgians remains the same: on the first Sunday in November they will once again “fall back” an hour, and next March they will “spring forward” again — just as they have for decades.With the 2026 session now over and the bill dead, the question is whether lawmakers will resurrect the effort in 2027.

History suggests they probably will. Georgia has shown remarkable persistence on this issue; what it has not yet shown is success.

Final Word

But the clock literally ran out. The rewritten bill never returned to the House for concurrence before lawmakers packed up and headed home for the year.

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ATLANTA — In a move aimed at eliminating the biannual ritual of adjusting clocks, the Georgia State Senate has passed legislation that would petition the federal government to move the state from the Eastern Time Zone to the Atlantic Time Zone, effectively placing Georgia on permanent daylight saving time.

House Bill 154, known as the Georgia Sunshine Protection Act, passed the Senate on Monday by a vote of 45-5.

Georgia Senate Passes Bill to Shift State to Atlantic Time Zone, Ending Clock Changes

The bill directs the governor to request that the U.S. Department of Transportation reclassify Georgia into the Atlantic Time Zone.

Some Atlanta residents have mixed feelings about a permanent Daylight Savings Time.

”I’m all for more sunlight,” said Tammy Jones of Smyrna. “But how dark is it going to be in the morning when I take my two kids to catch the school bus?”

If approved by Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, the state would observe Atlantic Standard Time year-round — meaning no more “spring forward” or “fall back” adjustments.

This approach represents a creative workaround to longstanding federal restrictions on permanent daylight saving time.

Current U.S. law under the Uniform Time Act generally prohibits states from observing daylight saving time outside the standard March-to-November period without congressional approval.

Georgia already passed a law in 2021 expressing support for year-round daylight saving time, but it remains contingent on federal action.

By shifting to the Atlantic zone (currently used by parts of Canada and the Caribbean), Georgia could achieve the equivalent of permanent DST while staying within existing federal time zone rules.

Why This Bill?

Supporters argue that ending clock changes would bring health, safety, and economic benefits by avoiding the disruptions linked to sleep schedule shifts, such as increased heart attacks, traffic accidents, and workplace errors in the days following time changes.

The bill builds on years of debate in the Georgia General Assembly, where lawmakers have repeatedly considered both permanent standard time and permanent daylight saving time options.

The amended version of HB 154 now heads back to the House for concurrence on the Senate’s changes. It previously passed the House overwhelmingly in an earlier form.16

Potential Impacts

• Daily Life: Georgians would no longer reset clocks twice a year. In winter months, sunrises would occur later (potentially near 8 a.m. or later in some areas), while evenings would stay lighter longer — a key appeal of extended daylight saving time for many.
• Regional Alignment: Georgia would become the only U.S. state in the Atlantic Time Zone, creating a one-hour difference with neighboring states like Florida (which stays on Eastern Time) and Alabama (Central Time). This could affect business, broadcasting, and travel across state lines.
• Federal Hurdle: The change still requires approval from the U.S. Department of Transportation. Without it, the bill would have no effect.

Critics, including some public health advocates and groups favoring permanent standard time, have raised concerns about later winter sunrises, which could mean darker mornings for school commutes and early workers.

Opponents have urged amendments to keep the state on Eastern Standard Time year-round instead.

Broader Context

Georgia is one of many states exploring ways to end the twice-yearly clock changes. While Congress has considered bills to make daylight saving time permanent nationwide, no such legislation has passed.

In the absence of federal reform, states like Georgia are pursuing creative solutions through time zone adjustments or conditional laws.

The bill reflects ongoing public frustration with daylight saving time transitions.

Polls and legislative debates across the country show divided opinions: many prefer more evening light in winter, while others worry about darker mornings or misalignment with neighboring regions.

As the legislation moves forward in the Georgia House, Georgians will be watching closely to see if the Peach State becomes the first to “spring forward” permanently by changing its time zone altogether. If enacted and approved federally, the days of losing an hour of sleep in March could finally be over.

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Dr. Heavenly Kimes, the outspoken dentist and reality TV personality known for her role on Bravo’s “Married to Medicine,” has taken a significant step toward transitioning from the small screen to the halls of Congress.

On March 4, Kimes submitted her qualifying paperwork to run as a Democrat for Georgia’s 13th Congressional District, a move that positions her to challenge longtime incumbent Rep. David Scott in the upcoming May primary.

Dr. Heavenly Kimes Qualifies for Congress

Kimes, 55, who has built a successful dental practice in Atlanta and become a fixture in the city’s social and entrepreneurial scenes, announced her congressional bid earlier this year after initially planning to run for state representative.

Her campaign emphasizes grassroots momentum, drawing on her experiences as a business owner, mother, and community advocate to address key issues affecting families in the district, which spans parts of Atlanta and its southern suburbs.”Initially, I was running for state representative. I’ve been giving back to my community for years and felt that was the next transition,” Kimes said in a recent interview.

“But once I actually announced, everybody said, ‘You can do something bigger for your community.’” She shifted her focus to Congress amid concerns over healthcare policy and a perceived lack of engagement from current leadership.

Kimes’ platform centers on affordable healthcare, economic opportunity, safe communities, and direct constituent engagement.

As detailed on her campaign website, she aims to expand access to healthcare by prioritizing patients over profits, promote community wealth through homeownership and entrepreneurship programs, ensure quality education for all children, support families with safer neighborhoods, and boost the local economy via small businesses and job creation.

Her entry into politics has not been without controversy. Some critics, including those associated with the incumbent, have questioned her use of the “Dr.” title in campaign materials, though Kimes, a licensed dentist with over 25 years of experience serving patients in the district, has dismissed such attacks as distractions.

“Titles matter. Integrity matters more. I worked for mine. Earned it. Built on it,” she stated in a social media post addressing the issue.

Kimes’ fame from “Married to Medicine,” where she has appeared for 12 seasons, has been both an asset and a point of discussion. Supporters argue her visibility and relatability make her a strong voice for the district, while detractors question whether her on-screen persona aligns with the seriousness of congressional duties.

Kimes counters that her real-life experiences as a healthcare provider and entrepreneur equip her to fight for lower prescription drug prices, protections for pre-existing conditions, and broader economic stability.

The Democratic primary is set for May 19, 2026, with voter registration closing on April 20. Early voting runs from April 27 to May 15, and absentee ballots will be available starting April 20.

If no candidate secures a majority, a runoff will occur on June 16.As Kimes ramps up her campaign, she continues to balance her political ambitions with her ongoing role on the Bravo series, proving that her drive extends beyond entertainment. “This is real, I’m very serious,” she affirmed recently.

For Atlanta residents in the 13th District, her bid represents a fresh perspective in a race that could reshape local representation in Washington.For more information on Kimes’ campaign, visit drheavenlyforgeorgia.com.