HARRISBURG, PA — Legislation aimed at expanding pollinator-friendly habitats on Pennsylvania state properties advanced Monday after receiving unanimous approval from the House Environmental & Natural Resources Committee, a move supporters say could help address declining insect populations that play a critical role in agriculture and food production.
House Bill 426, sponsored by state Rep. Chris Pielli, D-Chester, would encourage the use of insecticide-free native plants and flowers in the construction of new gardens, lawns, and green spaces at state-owned facilities. The measure now moves to the full House for consideration.
The proposal comes as concerns grow over declining pollinator populations, particularly monarch butterflies. According to Pielli, the North American monarch population has fallen by roughly 90% since the 1990s, leading the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to consider protections under the Endangered Species Act.
Supporters argue that pollinator declines pose economic as well as environmental risks. Pennsylvania’s agricultural sector generates more than $250 million annually from crops that benefit from insect pollination, along with more than $9 million from pollination required for seed production, according to information cited by the lawmaker.
“Without insects and pollinators, our flowers and crops cannot survive,” Pielli said. “This threatens our agricultural industry, which is vital to our state’s economy.”
Pielli also linked pollinator health to food security, noting that approximately one-third of food consumed depends on pollination.
“Furthermore, these crops that use pollinators are also a major source of nutrition for us humans,” he said. “To ensure a healthy population, we must protect our pollinators.”
If enacted, the legislation would expand the use of native, insecticide-free plantings on state properties as part of broader efforts to support pollinator habitats across the Commonwealth.
The bill now awaits consideration by the full Pennsylvania House of Representatives.
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