Oregonians will not vote on IP 28 hunting, fishing ban in November

Key Points:

• Oregon's Secretary of State confirmed that Initiative Petition 28, which aimed to criminalize hunting and fishing, did not gather enough valid signatures to appear on the November ballot, with only 104,262 valid signatures out of over 142,000 submitted.
• The petition, known as the People for the Elimination of Animal Cruelty Exemptions (PEACE) Act, sought to redefine animal cruelty laws by classifying the killing of animals as abuse except in cases of immediate harm prevention, removing exceptions for animal husbandry, and imposing penalties including community service and animal ownership bans.
• The initiative faced widespread opposition from Oregon politicians and organizations, including all 37 House Democrats, U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley, the Oregon Farm Bureau, and both major gubernatorial candidates, with concerns about its economic impact and effect on Oregon's way of life.
• Governor Tina Kotek expressed relief that the measure did not make the ballot, stating it would not have helped Oregonians, while supporters acknowledged they did not expect voter approval but aimed to spark discussion on animal cruelty.
• This marks petitioner David Michelson's third attempt to bring similar animal cruelty legislation to Oregon voters, reflecting ongoing efforts to address the issue despite resistance.