Pennsylvania's bees, butterflies, moths, and beetles are disappearing, and with them goes a critical part of the state's food supply. These pollinators support the crops that feed Pennsylvania families, yet habitat loss and heavy pesticide use have pushed their populations into steep decline.

The Native Habitats at Commonwealth Facilities Act (HB 426) offers a practical fix. It would require state agencies to plant native, pesticide-free vegetation in green spaces and landscaping projects at public buildings, and to look for opportunities to swap turfgrass for pollinator meadows: areas made up of at least 50% native wildflowers that support pollinators through every stage of their life cycle.

This isn't a partisan issue. The bill already passed the Pennsylvania House of Representatives by a unanimous vote, a rare sign that lawmakers across the political spectrum agree pollinators are worth protecting. Now it heads to the state Senate, where a similar show of support could get it signed into law.

Manicured lawns at government buildings do little for Pennsylvania's ecosystems or its farms. Native plantings and pollinator meadows can restore the habitat these species need to survive, while sending a clear message that public land should work for wildlife, not just appearances.

Pennsylvania's senators have a chance to finish what the House started. Sign the petition to urge the state Senate to pass HB 426 before more pollinator habitat, and the crops that depend on it, are lost for good.