Daylight saving time in Wisconsin would end under bipartisan bill in state Legislature

Yahoo

30-03-2025

Among the legislation introduced in the state Capitol in March addresses a topic that sees yearly debate every fall and spring — doing away with daylight savings.
The bill would end daylight saving time in Wisconsin and establish a consistent standard time throughout the year. Federal law allows states that sit entirely in one time zone, like Wisconsin, to forego daylight saving if it's a statewide policy.
So far, 14 lawmakers from both parties have signed up in support of the bill. While introduced by Republicans, supporters include one of the Legislature's most liberal members, Sen. Chris Larson, D-Milwaukee.
The bill authors — Rep. Nate Gustafson, R-Fox Crossing, and Sen. Rachael Cabral-Guevara, R-Appleton — cited research that daylight saving affects mental health and productivity, increases workplace injuries and traffic accidents, and is especially difficult for kids in school.
State lawmakers have debated doing away with daylight saving time before, but it's never changed. In 1999, 2001 and 2003, lawmakers wrote resolutions encouraging Congress to make daylight saving time permanent. Some received public hearings but never passed.
President Donald Trump has also pushed to end daylight savings. If the bill gets signed into law — a long and difficult process in the Legislature — Wisconsin would join Hawaii and Arizona in no longer observing daylight savings. Several states have seen similar efforts to end the practice.
Here's a roundup of other interesting bills lawmakers circulated in March, seeking support from their colleagues. None have received a public hearing or committee votes so far, some of the first steps toward becoming law.
This bill would create tax credits to encourage video game production in Wisconsin. Employers are interested in leaving California, lawmakers say, and Wisconsin has an opportunity to attract them and create high-paying jobs. Wisconsin is already home to a handful of video game studios, including Raven Software in Middleton.
Similar tax credits have been pitched for filmmakers in Wisconsin, including in Evers' budget proposal. But those bipartisan bills didn't go far in previous sessions, and there was no public hearing for them in 2024. The video game tax credits could see the same outcome.
Supporters: Rep. Clint Moses, R-Menomonie; Sen. Patrick Testin, R-Stevens Point
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Wisconsin courtrooms face a backlog of cases, including divorces and legal separations. After resolving all steps to dissolve a marriage, parties must appear in court for a final hearing — a "formality that can be stressful and time-consuming," the authors argue.
The bill allows a signed affidavit instead, if the parties are represented by attorneys or working with an attorney mediator. Some counties used affidavits temporarily during the pandemic with "positive feedback," lawmakers say.
The bill doesn't change the legal process for divorce, including the 120-day waiting period and six-month remarriage timeline.
Supporters: Rep. Ron Tusler, R-Harrison; Sen. Eric Wimberger, R-Oconto
More: Milwaukee County has a backlog of court cases. A shortage of court reporters isn't helping.
Democrats reintroduced a resolution to declare an Economic Justice Bill of Rights, which includes a job that pays a living wage, adequately funded public education, affordable child care, unions and collective bargaining, accessible health care and a sustainable environment.
The resolution is almost certain not to gain Republican support — it's been introduced in 2021 and 2023 and didn't advance. Democrats said they put forward the resolution this year "as a reaffirmation of our commitment to these rights" while working on policy in 2025.
Supporters: Reps. Francesca Hong, D-Madison; Angelito Tenorio, D-West Allis; Ryan Clancy, D-Milwaukee; Angelina Cruz, D-Racine; Darrin Madison, D-Milwaukee; Christian Phelps, D-Eau Claire; Robyn Vining, D-Wauwatosa; Sens. Chris Larson, D-Milwaukee; Jeff Smith, D-Brunswick
Lawmakers circulated a package of bills aimed at staffing shortages and funding issues affecting emergency medical services providers across Wisconsin. One bill would allow flexibilities for municipalities that choose to work together or consolidate their EMS services.
Another provides tuition reimbursement for the cost of initial EMS education through the Wisconsin Technical College System. A third bill creates a pilot program for Live911, which lets dispatchers talk to callers via video. Republicans say they intend to include funding for both in the state budget.
Evers also pitched solutions to EMS challenges in his budget, including making it easier for first responders with post-traumatic stress disorder to access worker's compensation, an idea Republicans also support.
Supporters: Reps. Tony Kurtz, R-Wonewoc; Todd Novak, R-Dodgeville; Rob Summerfield, R-Bloomer; Nate Gustafson, R-Fox Crossing; Shannon Zimmerman, R-River Falls; David Armstrong, R-Rice Lake, Sens. Howard Marklein, R-Spring Green; Jesse James, R-Thorp; Andre Jacque, R-New Franken
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This bill would require restaurants who advertise maple syrup on their menu to serve real maple syrup with the meal, instead of an imitation product. There are no penalties if restaurants don't comply.
The bill is intended to support the maple syrup industry in Wisconsin, which produced nearly half a million gallons in 2024.
In 2023, the same bill got a public hearing but never made it to a vote. Similar "truth-in-labeling" bills, like one that would prohibit plant-based beverages from being marketed as milk, have not made it to the governor.
Wisconsin does have a longstanding law that says restaurants can't substitute margarine for real butter unless the customer asks for it. There are potential fines and jail time, but the law isn't enforced in practice.
Supporters: Rep. Tara Johnson, D-Town of Shelby; Sen. Kelda Roys, D-Madison
This bipartisan bill would designate and mark a stretch of U.S. 12 in Lake Delton as the 'Tom Diehl Memorial Highway.' Diehl, who died last year, was the president and co-owner of the Tommy Bartlett waterskiing show. He also served on Lake Delton's village board.
"Though Tom has departed from us, his unparalleled influence in building the entertainment community and shaping Wisconsin Dells into the tourism landmark it is today will never be forgotten," lawmakers wrote in a memo seeking support.
Other bills naming highways after Wisconsin figures have had success in the Capitol. Evers approved naming 'Corporal Benjamin H. Neal Memorial Highway" in honor of a Orfordville native who died while serving in Afghanistan. Green Bay's Walnut Street Bridge was renamed in honor of Packers legend Bart Starr.
Evers vetoed a 2019 bill that would have established criteria for bills seeing to rename a highway or bridge, objecting to "limiting the ability to commemorate those who have made significant contributions to or sacrifices for the people of Wisconsin."
Supporters: Rep. Tony Kurtz, R-Wonewoc; Sen. Sarah Keyeski, D-Lodi
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Daylight saving time would end under bipartisan bill in Wisconsin