While upgrading a fan switch to a timed switch I came across the wiring as pictured below. What purpose does the line daisy chaining these separate light and fan switches serve? Should I remove or what should I reconnect to?
Update: After testing the lines with a multi-meter (w/ multi-meter red node to test line, black nod to neutral) there is only one hot line (the u-shaped wire in the middle of the img.