Oregon Animal Rights Initiative Falls Short of Ballot Signatures, Blocked From November Vote

An ambitious animal-rights ballot measure in Oregon will not appear on the November ballot after failing to secure enough valid signatures, providing relief to the state’s hunting, fishing and agricultural communities. Initiative Petition 28 supporters submitted more than 142,000 signatures, exceeding the required 117,173 threshold, but Oregon’s Secretary of State’s Office determined only 104,262 signatures were valid following two rounds of verification, leaving the campaign roughly 13,000 signatures short.

The proposal, branded as the “PEACE Act” or the People for the Elimination of Animal Cruelty Exemptions Act, would have removed longstanding exemptions in Oregon’s animal cruelty statutes that currently protect lawful hunting, fishing, trapping, ranching, farming and pest control activities. Under the measure’s terms, any killing or injury to animals would have been classified as abuse unless necessary to prevent immediate harm to a person or another animal, potentially exposing hunters, commercial fishermen and farmers to criminal liability.

The measure generated rare bipartisan opposition, with Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek, U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley, all 37 Democrats in the Oregon House and Republican lawmakers joining the Oregon Farm Bureau, Oregon Veterinary Medical Association and Oregon Hunters Association in opposing it. Kotek stated Friday that she was “relieved” IP28 failed to qualify, noting conversations with Oregonians convinced her the measure would have provided no practical benefit.

Hunters and anglers contribute substantial conservation funding through license sales and federal excise taxes on firearms, ammunition and fishing equipment, dollars that support habitat acquisition, boat ramp maintenance, wildlife research and public recreation programs. The defeat of IP28 protects a wildlife management system funded primarily by sportsmen, which could have shifted costs entirely to taxpayers if hunting were eliminated.

The initiative’s failure carries national significance as other states grapple with similar campaigns attempting to restrict hunting and fishing. Florida became the 24th state to adopt constitutional protections recognizing the right to hunt and fish when voters approved Amendment 2 in 2024 with 67.4% support, with similar efforts underway in Ohio, Colorado, Delaware and New Hampshire.

Chief petitioner David Michelson indicated this represents his third failed attempt to place the measure before Oregon voters and emphasized supporters view the campaign as long-term. He previously stated the goal was developing an organization capable of pursuing similar initiatives across multiple election cycles and eventually launching them in other states.

While the defeat represents a victory for hunting and outdoor recreation advocates, supporters came substantially closer to qualifying for the ballot this year compared to previous attempts. Conservation advocates stress the need for continued vigilance, noting that the broader effort to eliminate hunting and fishing rights remains active.