--- title: "Colorado Governor Jared Polis Signs Order to Protect Pollinators" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/politics/colorado-governor-jared-polis-signs-order-to-protect-pollinators" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/colorado-governor-jared-polis-signs-order-to-protect-pollinators" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/politics/colorado-governor-jared-polis-signs-order-to-protect-pollinators.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/colorado-governor-jared-polis-signs-order-to-protect-pollinators" category: "Politics" area: "United States" published: "2026-09-17T12:25:13.169Z" source_reported: "2026-09-16T22:36:17.000Z" updated: "2026-09-17T12:25:13.169Z" trust_score: 42 critic_score: 61 hype_score: 20 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-09-17T12:15:46.225093+00:00" --- # Colorado Governor Jared Polis Signs Order to Protect Pollinators *The executive order directs state agencies to reduce pesticide use and support habitat protection.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 42 of 100, higher is better. Central claim attributed to named body, with one source named on record and one document cited. - Craft 61 of 100, higher is better. Reporting includes quotes from affected parties and names specific actions and departments. - Hype 20 of 100, lower is better. Language is measured and proportionate, with no sensationalism or manufactured urgency. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - Colorado Governor Jared Polis signed an executive order to protect pollinators. - The order directs state agencies to reduce pesticide use and implement pollinator-friendly controls. - It also calls for support for local governments and private landowners in protecting pollinator habitat. - Pollinators face threats including habitat loss, drought, invasive species, and pesticides. Colorado Governor Jared Polis has signed an executive order to protect bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. The directive instructs state agencies to reduce their use of pesticides and to employ pollinator-friendly controls. It also directs departments to assist local governments and private landowners in efforts to protect and establish pollinator habitat. Pollinators in Colorado face significant threats, including habitat loss, drought, invasive species, and exposure to pesticides. Governor Polis has previously taken action to support pollinators, including creating an invertebrate and rare plant initiative and ordering the use of bee-friendly seed mixtures on state land. ## Coverage comparison ## What the coverage left out None of the left, centre, or unrated reports mentioned previous specific actions by Governor Polis, such as the creation of an invertebrate and rare plant initiative or ordering bee-friendly seed mixtures on state land, details that were present in the full report from The Colorado Sun. ## Who covered it Shares of the 7 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 57% (4) - Centre: 43% (3) - Right: 0% (0) 2 of 9 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-09-17T12:15:46.225093+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 4 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-09-17T13:15:46.985Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - Reports from the left focused on Governor Polis's executive action to protect pollinators, highlighting the threats they face. The Colorado Sun, which provided a full report, noted Polis's background as a former beekeeper and florist. This report quoted Governor Polis stating, "Pollinators help grow everything we love in Colorado." It also included a statement from Allison Johnson, a senior attorney at the Natural Resources Defense Council, who said the action would help private landowners and local governments decrease the use of neonicotinoids, which she described as among the most dangerous pesticides for pollinators. The Daily Item and NRDC digests also covered the order, with The Daily Item's digest mentioning climate change, habitat loss, and pesticides as threats. ### Centre - The centre-rated reports highlighted Governor Polis's executive order and its aims to protect pollinators. The Longmont Leader's digest included a quote from the governor: "Colorado’s economy depends on agriculture and outdoor recreation, and that's why protecting and strengthening Colorado’s natural pollinators is so important." Digests from Lancaster Farming, Colorado Politics, and Denver Post all covered the executive order, with the latter two mentioning the threats of pesticides and habitat loss. Colorado Politics noted the order was intended to boost protections for pollinators. ### Right No separate framing summary. **Provisional coverage gap:** right. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - high: 2 - unknown: 2 - veryHigh: 5 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [Hoodline](https://hoodline.com/2026/09/polis-orders-colorado-agencies-to-protect-bees-as-insect-populations-plummet) — Polis Executive Order Protects Colorado Bees, Pollinators - [The Longmont Leader](https://longmontleader.com/colorado-news/governor-polis-takes-executive-action-to-expand-pollinator-habitat-cut-pesticide-risk-12788354) — Governor Polis Takes Executive Action To Expand Pollinator Habitat, Cut Pesticide Risk - [The Daily Item](https://dailyitem.com/wire/new-order-by-colorado-gov-jared-polis-aims-to-protect-bees-and-other-pollinators-from/article_757c13ec-318d-5180-9305-076b76a6e931.html) — New order by Colorado Gov. Jared Polis aims to protect bees and other pollinators from climate change, habitat loss - [Lancaster Farming](https://lancasterfarming.com/news/associated_press/new-order-by-colorado-gov-jared-polis-aims-to-protect-bees-and-other-pollinators-from/article_6eb4bb1c-16be-52d2-80ed-7482e132a88c.html) — New order by Colorado Gov. Jared Polis aims to protect bees and other pollinators from climate change, habitat loss - [Colorado Politics](https://coloradopolitics.com/2026/09/16/colorado-gov-jared-polis-issues-executive-order-to-boost-protections-for-pollinators) — Colorado Gov. Jared Polis issues executive order to boost protections for pollinators - [Colorado Sun](https://coloradosun.com/2026/09/16/jared-polis-bees-butterflies-executive-action) — Colorado governor, an ex-beekeeper, takes executive action to save the bees - [Denver Post](https://denverpost.com/2026/09/16/jared-polis-pollinators-executive-order-bees) — New order by Gov. Jared Polis aims to protect bees and other pollinators from pesticides, habitat loss - [NRDC](https://nrdc.org/press-releases/nrdc-statement-colorado-pollinator-executive-order) — NRDC Statement on Colorado Pollinator Executive Order - [Colorado Public Radio](https://cpr.org/2026/09/16/pollinator-protection-colorado-polis-executive-order) — Governor Polis signs executive order aimed at protecting pollinators ## Questions **What does Governor Polis's executive order require state agencies to do?** The executive order directs Colorado state agencies to reduce their use of pesticides and to implement pollinator-friendly controls. It also mandates that departments support local governments and private landowners in their efforts to protect and establish pollinator habitat. **What threats do pollinators face in Colorado?** Pollinators in Colorado are threatened by habitat loss, drought, invasive species, and exposure to pesticides. Neonicotinoids are specifically mentioned as particularly dangerous pesticides for these insects. **Has Governor Polis taken action to protect pollinators before?** Yes, Governor Polis has previously taken steps to support pollinators. These include creating an invertebrate and rare plant initiative and ordering the use of bee-friendly seed mixtures on state land. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/politics/colorado-governor-jared-polis-signs-order-to-protect-pollinators. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "Colorado Governor Jared Polis Signs Order to Protect Pollinators", https://mediabias.news/politics/colorado-governor-jared-polis-signs-order-to-protect-pollinators