Bill was introduced in Sep/25, but I only got a whiff of it in the last couple of weeks
See House Bill HB1878: https://fastdemocracy.com/bill-search/pa/2025-2026/bills/PAB00038963/
Are there any other states/countries taking similar initiatives?
Summary:
Pennsylvania homeowners deserve the right to choose native plant species they desire for landscaping around their homes. However, work is needed to remove bottlenecks for homeowners to select native vegetation for their desired landscaping.
This legislation will prevent homeowners associations (HOAs) from unreasonably prohibiting the use of native plants for landscaping on private property. This ensures homeowners residing within an HOA the same ability to choose native landscaping as other homeowners.
Native plants provide many beneficial functions that many homeowners desire. These include being aesthetically pleasing and providing habitat for pollinators while being adapted to the site and typically requiring lower maintenance than non-native plants. […]
actually, they are not broadly despised, as evidenced by the fact that so many people choose to live in HOA-governed neighborhoods. you might think that because all you hear are the horror stories, but that is because you never hear from those who are satisfied with their HOA. as always, ymmv.
The fact that so many people choose to live in a HOA is not on its own evidence that they aren’t despised. There’s a housing crisis in the States and people will live where they can. HOAs are often something you move into a neighborhood in spite of, not for.