Shouldn't this year's return use information from last year's return without my having to go searching for it? How can I do that?

If you used the exact same account and user ID that you used for 2023 then your AGI would have transferred over.   But if you are in a different account, you have to hunt it down.

Many people have multiple TT accounts and forget how to access them.  Log out of the account you are in now.

https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/account-management/many-intuit-accounts-turbotax/L9aVfKS1Z_US_en_US?uid=ll5g6zcx

Account Recovery

Where do I find my AGI?

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/agi/help/how-do-i-find-last-year-s-agi/01/25947

Your 2023 tax return shows your 2022 Adjusted Gross Income  (AGI)  If you filed a joint return then the AGI is the same for each of you.

Form 1040        line 11

If entering the amount from your 2023 tax return does not work, then try entering “0” instead.  If that does not work and you still cannot e-file, then print, sign, and mail your tax return.

You can get a free transcript of your past return from the IRS:  

https://www.irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript

Note: If you filed late or amended your return, your correct 2023 AGI may not be in the system.