Oregon Secretary of State Confirms Hunting and Fishing Ban Initiative Fails to Qualify for Ballot
The Oregon Secretary of State's Office announced that Initiative Petition 28, which sought to ban hunting, fishing, livestock farming, and animal research, will not appear on the November ballot. The initiative, led by Portland-based vegan advocates, aimed to expand the state's animal cruelty laws significantly. Despite collecting over 142,000 signatures, only 104,262 were validated, falling short of the required 117,173 signatures. The proposal faced widespread opposition from political leaders, industry groups, and tribal organizations. If enacted, it would have criminalized most forms of animal killing, with exceptions for self-defense and veterinary care.