Wisconsin bill would eliminate daylight saving time

Wisconsin lawmakers introduced bipartisan legislation this year that would eliminate daylight saving time and keep the state on standard time year-round. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Nate Gustafson (R-Fox Crossing) and a group of bipartisan legislators, was referred to committee in April but did not advance further in the legislative session.

The proposal takes advantage of a federal exemption that allows states lying entirely within one timezone—like Wisconsin—to observe standard time throughout the year without violating federal law. Currently, Wisconsin residents set their clocks forward one hour in March and back one hour in November, a practice that dates back decades. This marks the first time Wisconsin legislators have proposed eliminating daylight saving time this century, according to the Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau.

The bill reflects growing national sentiment against the twice-yearly time change. A March Gallup poll found that more than half of Americans favor ending the practice. The Wisconsin Broadcasters Association was the only organization officially lobbying against the measure, while no groups formally supported it during the legislative process.

For Milwaukee residents, eliminating daylight saving time would mean no more spring-forward and fall-back adjustments—a change many have advocated for due to concerns about sleep disruption and health impacts. While the bill did not pass this session, similar proposals continue to be introduced in state legislatures and Congress, suggesting the issue may resurface in future legislative sessions.