A bill to permanently switch to daylight saving time passed in the House in July. Williams was the only representative in Georgia’s delegation who voted against it.
U.S. Rep. Nikema Williams greets local politicians at an event at the East Point City Council Chambers, Tuesday, July 28, 2026, in East Point, Ga. Williams was the only member of Georgia’s Congressional delegation to vote against a bill that would make Daylight Saving Time permanent. (Jason Getz/AJC)
U.S. Rep. Nikema Williams did more than cast a vote when she decided against making daylight saving time permanent — she made a statement. She was the only Georgia lawmaker to oppose the Sunshine Protection Act that passed the House in July.
“I’m never afraid to stand alone if it means standing up for the people I serve,” Williams, D-Atlanta, said.
Changing the clocks twice a year is inconvenient. But there are major disagreements on which time to stick with and which to ditch.
The Sunshine Protection Act is one solution that would eliminate the twice-yearly clock changes. It would make daylight saving time permanent, keeping clocks one hour ahead of standard time year-round. The House passed the bill by a vote of 308 to 117 last month. Now it awaits consideration in the Senate, where it faces fierce opposition.
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Sophia Eppley is the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s 2026 summer politics intern.
