Oregon’s PEACE Act Initiative Aims to Remove Hunting, Fishing and Livestock Exemptions

Initiative Petition 28, the People for the Elimination of Animal Cruelty Exemptions Act (PEACE Act), would strip Oregon’s animal-cruelty law of exemptions for hunting, fishing, trapping, livestock slaughter, commercial poultry, rodeos, wildlife management, pest control and animal research. The campaign filed 126,115 raw signatures on May 29 2026, surpassing the 117,173 needed for ballot qualification. The filing deadline is July 2 2026; verification must be completed by August 2 2026 for the measure to appear on the November 2026 ballot.

Oregon Proposal Could Criminalize Hunting and Fishing. It Just Cleared a Major Signature HurdleKOIN - PortlandSnopes

Current Oregon law defines “animal” as any non-human mammal, bird, reptile, amphibian or fish and exempts lawful hunting and fishing from animal-abuse statutes. IP28 would broaden the definition and remove those exemptions, leaving only narrow defenses for self-defense and veterinary care, and would create a Humane Transition Fund for workers displaced from livestock production.

Snopes

The petition is led by David Michelson, Isaac Farias and Antonio Pirozzi of the Portland-based End Animal Cruelty, with backing from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and private donors. Opponents include the Oregon Farm Bureau, the Oregon Cattlemen’s Association and other agricultural groups. A 2019 Earth Economics study estimated that hunting, fishing and wildlife-watching generate $1.2 billion in spending and support more than 11,000 Oregon jobs, raising concerns that criminalizing these activities could harm the state’s outdoor-recreation economy and disrupt meat, dairy and animal-protein production.

KOIN - Portland

The Oregon Farm Bureau warned that IP28 could redefine “sexual assault” to include routine breeding, exposing farmers and veterinarians to criminal liability. Campaign leaders say passage is unlikely and that the initiative’s main aim is to shift public attitudes toward animal welfare. Texas Governor Greg Abbott called the measure an ideological threat to hunting rights. Snopes notes that non-injurious tracking would remain legal, while supporters claim the initiative would effectively ban hunting, fishing and trapping. Signature totals remain unverified pending state verification.

Oregon Proposal Could Criminalize Hunting and Fishing. It Just Cleared a Major Signature Hurdle

• “We felt moved to file this petition after recognizing that the animals we currently injure, kill, and forcibly impregnate have the same needs, such as for affection, play and understanding, that our companion animals have,” — David Michelson, Chief petitioner, End Animal Cruelty

KOIN - Portland

• “Most concerning for agriculture, IP 28 (Initiative Petition 28, also known as the PEACE Act) would redefine ‘sexual assault’ to include routine breeding practices, potentially applying this classification to livestock, equine operations, and even domestic pets.” — Oregon Farm Bureau statement

KOIN - Portland

• “This is exactly what happens when Democratic Socialists take power, they come for your way of life,” — Governor Greg Abbott, Texas

KOIN - Portland

• “For our campaign, what a win looks like is so different than what some other campaigns would call a win because we know that this isn't going to pass in 2026.” — David Michelson, End Animal Cruelty

Snopes

Verification of the 126,115 signatures must be completed by August 2 2026; if successful, IP28 will appear on the November 2026 ballot, where voters will decide its fate.

Oregon Proposal Could Criminalize Hunting and Fishing. It Just Cleared a Major Signature Hurdle