Georgia residents will soon turn their clocksback as daylight saving time comes to anend for 2026.
The annual fall clock change is scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 1, when clocks in Georgia will move back one hour from 2 a.m. to 1 a.m. local time. That means most Georgians will gain an extra hour of sleep that night.
But this could eventually change. A bill moving through Congress would make daylight saving time permanent, eliminating the twice-yearly clock changes.
For now, however, Georgia's clocks are still set to change this fall.
When does daylight saving time end in Georgia?
Daylight saving time ends at 2 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026, in Georgia.
At that point, clocks will move back one hour to 1 a.m. and Georgia will return to Eastern Standard Time.
The change will affect communities across the
state, including Atlanta, Savannah, Augusta, Athens and Columbus. Georgia observes Eastern Time statewide.
Many smartphones, computers and other internet-connected devices will automatically update. Older clocks, appliances and some vehicle clocks may need to be changed manually.
Will Georgia get an extra hour of sleep?
Yes. When the clocks move backward in November, the same hour occurs twice.
That means the overnight period is one hour longer, giving people an opportunity to get an extra hour of sleep.
The tradeoff comes in the evening, when sunset will occur about an hour earlier after the switch to standard time.
Will daylight saving time become permanent?
Not yet.
The U.S. House passed the Sunshine Protection Act of 2025, also known as H.R. 139, on July 14, 2026. The bill would make daylight saving time the year-round standard for most states that currently observe it, ending the twice-yearly clock changes.
The legislation passed the House 308-117 and was received by the Senate on July 15, where it was referred to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation.
Because the bill has not become law, Georgia will still change its clocks on Nov. 1, 2026 under the current rules.
What would permanent daylight saving time mean for Georgia?
If the federal legislation becomes law in its current form, Georgia would generally remain on daylight saving time throughout the year rather than switching back to standard time in November.
That would shift an hour of daylight from the morning to the evening during the months when Georgia currently observes standard time.
The legislation also contains provisions for states and areas that already exempt themselves from daylight saving time.
For Georgia, though, no change has taken effect. Residents should continue to follow the existing schedule.
When does daylight saving time start again?
Under the current rules, Georgia is scheduled to move clocks forward again on Sunday, March 14, 2027.
At 2 a.m., clocks will move forward to 3 a.m., beginning another period of daylight saving time unless federal law changes before then.
For now, Georgia residents can expect one more "fall back" on Nov. 1.
Vanessa Johns is the Trending Topics Reporter for the Deep South Connect Team Georgia, covering food and entertainment. Email her at Vcountryman@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: When do clocks change in Georgia? Will it be permanent?
