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John,

Without bees, the world would be a much less colorful place: If pollinators disappeared tomorrow, more than 80% of the world's flowering plants would be unable to reproduce.[1]

The overuse of bee-killing pesticides and the destruction of critical pollinator habitat are driving some species closer to extinction.

State action can make a critical difference to save the bees. In many places, it already is. Here's how:

Neonicotinoids, or "neonics," are chemicals designed to target pests, but they're also extremely toxic to bees and other beneficial insects. Neonics attack the bee's central nervous system, overstimulating nerve cells and paralyzing the bee.[2]

Restricting the sale and use of these bee-killing pesticides is one of the best things states can do to protect pollinators.

New York and Vermont have taken an important step by restricting the sale of seeds pre-treated with neonics. Hawaii, Indiana, Minnesota, Oregon, Rhode Island, and others have passed legislation prohibiting application of neonicotinoid pesticides to certain crops, tightened labeling requirements, or otherwise restricted their use.

Plants treated with neonics are infused with the toxic chemical from roots to pollen -- so getting them off of farm fields is an effective way to protect pollinators from exposure.[3]

Twelve states -- including Colorado -- have made it so that only people with a pesticide applicator's permit can purchase neonics. The fewer neonics are sprayed and used, the healthier pollinator populations can become.

And some states are doing their part to help make sure bees' wild homes stay neonic-free. Minnesota and California have blocked the use of neonics on certain state lands, such as wildlife areas.

To save pollinators from extinction, we need people in every state to understand more about the dangers they face and how to save them. But we're well on the way: all 50 states have demonstrated their care for pollinators by officially recognizing National Pollinator Week.

Healthy pollinator populations need healthy habitats. At least 16 states are making it possible by doing research on or providing funding for habitat restoration so bees have the space to thrive. Texas, Kentucky, California, Connecticut, Illinois, New Mexico and others have policies or legislation in place to plant pollinator-friendly vegetation on state lands -- from state parks, to the lawns of state government buildings, to the space along roadsides.

An individual honeybee is tiny, but by working together the hive builds a home, creates honey, and performs all kinds of feats that a single bug could never dream of.

Each state's individual actions to help protect pollinators may seem small compared to the vast breadth of the whole country, but they, too, add up together into a nationwide movement that has the power to make a real difference.

Explore the full map of state actions to protect pollinators for even more info about the nationwide effort to save the bees.
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Thank you,

Ellen Montgomery

P.S. We need your support to keep building a future where bees are safe to thrive. Will you donate today to help keep our work going strong?
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1. "Who Are the Pollinators?," U.S. Forest Service, last accessed October 7, 2025.
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2. Stephen Leahy, "Insect 'apocalypse' in U.S. driven by 50x increase in toxic pesticides," National Geographic, August 6, 2019.
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3. "A snapshot of state actions to protect pollinators," Environment America, June 16, 2025.
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