With crossover day in full swing, Georgia Senate President Pro Tempore Butch Miller said two bills working their way through the Georgia Legislature that focus on stopping the twice-annual switch between Standard Time and Daylight Saving Time are conversation starters.
"What we're trying to do is get the conversation started about it," Miller said. "Is there interest in changing it to Daylight Saving Time, or Standard Time? So that if you change it to standard time there would be more daylight hours in the afternoons. There would be advantages and disadvantages to both ways."
Miller, who represents the 49th District, made his comments on WDUN's Morning Talk Monday morning.
According to Miller, people have brought up making a permanent time change to congress, but they have refused to make any changes over the last ten years.
HB 44 was passed by the Georgia House on March 5, which would seek a permanent switch to Daylight Saving Time in Georgia. Likewise, SB 100 was passed by the Georgia Senate last month. SB 100 would seek a permanent switch to Standard Time in Georgia.
If HB 44 were to be passed by the Georgia Senate, the bill could not actually take effect unless Congress acts. States cannot currently observe Daylight Saving Time year-round, as it is against federal law.
"We've got to get some standardization," Miller said. "Maybe it's a hybrid, maybe it's 30 minutes, maybe it's in the middle. I don't know what the answer to it is, but we won't have an answer if we don't ask the question."
