Oregon hunting and fishing ban IP 28 will not be on November ballot

Oregon voters will not decide on the future of hunting and fishing this November. The Secretary of State's Office confirmed that Initiative Petition 28, often called the PEACE Act, failed to qualify for the ballot after falling short of the required number of valid signatures.

Election officials conducted two rounds of verification on the signatures submitted by proponents. While supporters turned in over 142,000 signatures, only 104,262 met the standards set by state law. The threshold required for placement on the ballot is 117,173 valid signatures.

If the measure had reached voters, it would have redefined animal cruelty laws in Oregon. The proposed text sought to criminalize the killing of animals unless required to prevent immediate harm to a person or another animal. It also targeted common breeding practices and removed existing protections for standard animal husbandry. Proponents included provisions for a Humane Transition Fund to address potential economic shifts and food supply concerns.

The proposal faced widespread opposition from elected officials across the political spectrum. All 37 House Democrats joined U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley in criticizing the measure. Industry groups like the Oregon Farm Bureau and the Oregon Hunters Association also actively campaigned against it. Governor Tina Kotek stated she was relieved the measure did not qualify, arguing that it would have negatively impacted residents. Republican challenger Christine Drazan also expressed strong disapproval of the initiative.

Petitioner David Michelson acknowledged that the campaign was primarily intended to start a public conversation regarding animal welfare rather than securing an immediate electoral victory. This attempt marks the third time the group has sought to place similar language before the voters. For now, Oregon state law regarding hunting, fishing, and animal husbandry remains unchanged.