Full Breakdown
Oregon Initiative to Criminalize Hunting and Fishing Fails to Qualify for November Ballot
7/25/2026, 2:05:16 PM
Core Event
The Oregon Secretary of State Elections Division announced that Initiative Petition 2026-028 (IP-28) will not appear on the November 3, 2026 General Election ballot. The division received the completed petition on July 2, 2026 and, after applying the Statistical Sampling Procedures for State Petitions, determined that the petition did not contain enough valid signatures to meet the qualification threshold.
Background & Context
IP-28, also known as the People for the Elimination of Animal Cruelty Exemptions (PEACE) Act, sought to amend Oregon’s animal-cruelty statutes. The proposal would have classified the killing of animals—except when preventing immediate harm to a person or another animal—as animal abuse, removed exemptions for “good animal husbandry,” and labeled certain breeding methods as sexual assault of an animal. To mitigate economic impacts, the measure created a “Humane Transition Fund” and an oversight council intended to address food-security and animal-care challenges. Petition sponsors David Michelson, Isaac Farias, and Sean Rice, all residents of Portland, have previously attempted to place similar measures on the ballot.
Data & Statistics
- Submitted signatures: over 142,000, surpassing the required 117,173.
- Valid signatures after verification: 104,262, representing 73.25 % of the 142,347 signatures accepted for review.
- Shortfall: the valid count fell short of the statutory threshold, leading to the initiative’s disqualification.
Official Statements & Responses
Governor Tina Kotek, in a July 24 statement, expressed relief that IP-28 failed to qualify, arguing that criminalizing hunting and fishing would be detrimental to Oregon. U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and all 37 Oregon House Democrats issued statements opposing the measure. The Oregon Farm Bureau, Oregon Veterinary Medical Association, and Oregon Hunters Association also publicly rejected the proposal, citing concerns over its economic and recreational impacts.
Criticism & Opposition
Republican gubernatorial candidate Sen. Petition backer David Michelson acknowledged that supporters did not expect voter approval but aimed to spark broader discussion about animal cruelty, marking this as his third attempt to bring the issue to the ballot.
