Oregon animal rights proposal falls short of ballot after signature review

SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) -- A controversial proposal that could have dramatically reshaped ranching and outdoor recreation in Oregon will not appear on the November ballot, state elections officials confirmed Friday.

According to the Statesman Journal, initiative Petition 28, which aimed to expand animal abuse laws by outlawing practices such as hunting, fishing and livestock slaughter, failed to gather enough valid signatures to qualify. The measure needed 117,173 valid signatures but submitted 104,262, with fewer than 74 percent deemed valid after review.

The outcome means Oregon voters will not see any statewide measures on the Nov. 3 general election ballot.

The proposal drew widespread attention across the state, including in rural and agricultural communities where ranching, hunting and fishing play a significant economic and cultural role. Opposition came from both Republican and Democratic elected officials, along with industry groups supporting livestock production and outdoor recreation.

Supporters of IP 28 had hoped to spark a broader conversation about how humans interact with animals. The initiative would have removed long-standing exemptions in Oregon’s animal abuse laws, potentially exposing people who hunt, fish, or raise livestock to prosecution. It also included provisions for a transition fund to support affected industries and would have barred individuals convicted of animal abuse from owning animals for at least five years.

Despite collecting more than 142,000 signatures during the campaign, backers acknowledged challenges throughout the process. Early analysis suggested a high number of duplicate or invalid signatures, a finding later confirmed in a second review.

“We petitioned until the very last day we could, but ultimately turned in fewer than what we needed,” chief petitioner David Michelson said in a statement Friday.

Michelson and supporters have now made three attempts to bring the proposal before voters. While acknowledging that 2026 would not be the year for a vote, he indicated the campaign may continue.

“If our campaign continues to grow, as it has since 2020, then such a vote may come to fruition in a future,” Michelson wrote.

Even some supporters conceded the proposal faced long odds, given the sweeping changes it would bring to daily life in Oregon, particularly in communities tied to agriculture and outdoor traditions.

For now, the measure’s failure preserves current laws governing hunting, fishing and livestock practices across the state.