Its About Time! Lets Stop Springing Forward & Falling Back

Elon Musk & Vivek Ramaswamy poked the bear on this topic recently when Elon suggested it might save some money & Vivek agreed. President Trump has previously stated his support for permanent Daylight Saving Time so maybe the stars are aligning for something to be done about this finally!

When I was elected in 2014, I never anticipated becoming involved in the debate over time change. I have always despised the twice-a-year ritual of shifting clocks between Standard Time (ST) and Daylight Saving Time (DST). Its a man-made adjustment that artificially disrupts the creator’s design of a gradual change in the amount of daylight throughout the year. While I personally prefer the longer daylight hours of DST, my hope is for Georgia to be able pick one and stick with it—no more back-and-forth.

It was never my intention that eliminating time change would become the issue that most people associate with my brief 8 year career as a reluctant politician. After a few years of being discouraged by my trusted colleagues, I decided to jump into the issue with both feet on the first legislative day after “spring forward” in 2019. I introduced two bills at the same time. One moved our state to permanent standard time (ST). The other moved us to permanent daylight saving time (DST) pending congressional approval.

I stood in The Well with both of the bills in hand, informing my colleagues of my intentions and inviting them to co-sponsor one or both pieces of legislation. The response was overwhelming. Members crowded around my desk. Within a few minutes, I had over 20 co-sponsors for each one.

The next day I received calls from all 3 local news networks wanting an interview. I was on The Weather Channel that weekend. Clearly, I had struck a nerve. One thing was abundantly clear: Almost everyone hates “springing forward” & “falling backward.”

I tried to pass a bill which would have put a non-binding referendum on the 2020 general election ballot which would have given Georgians the opportunity to communicate their preferences to the Legislature. My co-sponsors included both the Majority Leader & the Minority Leader. This issue is clearly bi-partisan. Unfortunately, Speaker Ralston did not like this idea and squashed this piece of legislation before I could even get it off the ground.

After 3 years of some crazy legislative maneuvering, I was able to pass a bill in 2021 which will move Georgia to permanent DST should Congress give us the authority to do so.

The ritual of springing forward & falling back began during WW I in 1918 as a way to conserve energy. It ended after the war but returned during WW II. This resulted in confusion as states made their own decisions. To fix this, the Uniform Time Act of 1966 standardized DST’s start & end dates, while allowing states to opt out. Over time, Americans’ preference for evening daylight led to two extensions of DST, which now lasts nearly 8 months of the year, leaving just 4 months of ST.

What began as a wartime measure to save energy has evolved into a deeply entrenched practice. Yet the debate over its value persists. Is springing forward & falling back worth it or should we abandon time change entirely?

The disruption caused by time changes is undeniable. Heart attacks rise 24% & fatal car accidents increase 6% in the week after springing forward, while pedestrian accidents spike after falling back due to darker evenings. Educators report that children take two weeks to adjust to time changes.

Because Time Change is almost universally disliked, the debate has shifted to which system to adopt: Standard Time (ST) or Daylight Saving Time (DST). Permanent ST aligns most closely with the natural solar day, making it the healthier option for our biological clocks. Advocates argue it would reduce sleep disorders & improve mental health. It’s also the simplest change to implement, as states already
have the authority to do this. However, permanent ST would mean darker evenings, curtailing after-work activities and potentially harming businesses reliant on evening commerce.

Permanent DST extends evening daylight, encouraging outdoor activities, reducing crime, and boosting the economy. Supporters argue it improves public health, with more daylight reducing seasonal depression and increasing opportunities for exercise.

However, critics warn that darker mornings—especially in winter—could be dangerous for schoolchildren and commuters, while the misalignment with the natural solar day might cause health issues.

In my informal social media survey of over 1,000 people, 90% support eliminating time change. When asked to choose, 70% prefer permanent DST. This mirrors national surveys, where DST is more popular than ST.

I am personally with the majority on this. I prefer permanent DST but would be happy to move to permanent ST in order to eliminate time change.

Adopting permanent DST would result in later sunrises during winter but extend evening daylight. For example, in Atlanta, under year-round DST, the earliest sunset would occur at 6:28. The latest would be 8:52. On the other hand, the earliest sunrise would be 6:26 & the latest 8:43. Year-round DST would also require the least adjustment, as we already spend 8 months in DST.

Momentum is building for change. At least 23 states have passed legislation, most favoring permanent DST, while 23 others are considering similar measures. In the Southeast, almost every state has passed legislation similar to ours. The trendline is moving toward a permanent solution.

The century-old practice of shifting clocks no longer serves its original purpose. Most Georgians agree it’s time to stop the clock changes, but the debate over ST vs DST remains. Whatever path is chosen, the ultimate goal should be to end the biannual disruption and establish a consistent time system that prioritizes health, safety, and societal well-being.

For me, the choice is clear: let’s embrace the daylight and adopt DST year-round. There is bi-partisan legislation pending in both the Senate & the House. The saying “It would take an act of Congress” is literally true in this case! I have reached out to both our Senators and my congressman to support this measure. If this issue is important to you, I suggest you do the same.