Oregon Secretary of State's Elections Division ruled that Initiative Petition 28 failed to qualify for the November ballot due to insufficient valid signatures.
The Oregon Secretary of State's Elections Division determined that Initiative Petition 28 will not appear on the November ballot after failing to meet the required signature threshold. Although supporters submitted over 142,000 signatures, officials verified only 104,262 as valid, falling short of the 117,173 needed to qualify. The proposal, known as the People for the Elimination of Animal Cruelty Exemptions (PEACE) Act, sought to significantly expand animal cruelty laws by criminalizing the killing of animals unless necessary to prevent immediate harm. If passed, the measure would have removed exceptions for "good animal husbandry" and impacted hunting, fishing, and livestock production. Campaign leader David Michelson stated that while the measure missed the mark this year, supporters intend to pursue it in future cycles. The Oregon Farm Bureau expressed relief over the decision, describing the proposal as "extreme" and "misguided" for the state's agricultural economy. Democratic Governor Tina Kotek welcomed the news, while Republican candidate Christine Drazan warned that the measure's proponents will likely return with future proposals.