The Very Simple Reason Why Wisconsin Doesn’t Do Daylight Saving Time (Along with THIS State)

Wisconsin currently observes daylight saving time, but recent legislative efforts have proposed ending it to establish a single, year-round standard time; meanwhile, the only two states that fully do not observe daylight saving time are Arizona and Hawaii, not Wisconsin.

Wisconsin’s Daylight Saving Status

1. Wisconsin adopted daylight saving time in 1957 after a statewide referendum, and has continued springing forward and falling back with the rest of the U.S. except for Arizona and Hawaii.
2. Recent proposed bills would end daylight saving in Wisconsin, citing concerns over workplace injuries, traffic accidents, and academic performance, but have not yet become law.
3. Federal law allows a state lying entirely within one time zone (like Wisconsin) to opt for permanent standard time but not permanent daylight saving time.

States That Do Not Observe Daylight Saving

1. Arizona and Hawaii are the two states that do not observe daylight saving time at all.
2. Arizona opted out due to its hot climate, as extra daylight in the evening increases energy usage and discomfort in summer.
3. Hawaii, being close to the equator, experiences little variation in day length, making the time change unnecessary.

Reasons Other States Don’t Do DST

1. Arizona: Hotter evenings mean more air conditioning if DST is observed, raising energy costs.
2. Hawaii: Minimal seasonal daylight changes, so no benefit to changing clocks.

Territories

• Several U.S. territories, including Puerto Rico, Guam, and American Samoa, also do not observe daylight saving time.

In summary, the simple reason Wisconsin remains on daylight saving time is tradition and federal law, but Arizona and Hawaii are the two states that do not participate, each for climate-driven

SOURCES

(https://thebadgerproject.org/2025/05/07/bill-to-end-daylight-saving-in-wisconsin-introduced-in-state-legislature/)
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daylight_saving_time_in_the_United_States)
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2eUV-1u57I)
(https://thehill.com/homenews/nexstar_media_wire/5149485-daylight-saving-time-2025-these-states-are-trying-to-lock-the-clocks/)
(https://www.ncsl.org/transportation/daylight-saving-time-state-legislation)