Why It Matters: The Oregon Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus (Caucus) has issued strong opposition to Oregon Initiative Petition 28 (IP-28), a ballot measure that, if passed, would criminalize lawful hunting, fishing, trapping, along with other traditionally accepted practices such as wildlife management, pest control, animal husbandry, and agriculture.
Highlights:
- IP-28 would eliminate exemptions from animal abuse statutes for lawful hunting, fishing, trapping, wildlife management, pest control, and standard agricultural practices.
- The loss of hunting and fishing licenses from sportsmen would eliminate 45-55% of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife’s (ODFW) funding and the agency’s ability to conduct science-based wildlife management.
- Caucus Co-Chairs Senators Anthony Broadman and David Brock-Smith recently submitted a press release in opposition of IP-28 on behalf of the Oregon Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus
In a recent press release, the Oregon Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus, Co-Chaired by Senators Anthony Broadman (D – Bend) and David Brock-Smith (R – Port Orchard), voiced bipartisan, unified opposition to IP-28, also known as the People for the Elimination of Animal Cruelty Exemptions (PEACE) Act. This initiative, aiming for the November 2026 ballot, seeks to remove long-standing exemptions in Oregon’s animal abuse laws that protect legal activities such as hunting, fishing, trapping, and wildlife management, classifying all animal death and injury (even pest control and humane agricultural practices) as criminal acts ranging from misdemeanor abuse to sexual assault. Proponents for IP-28 have submitted nearly 100,000 of the required 117,173 signatures, with a deadline of July 2, 2026. If the proponents collect the required number of certified signatures, our sporting heritage will be on the ballot in Oregon this November.
The loss of hunting and fishing, along with accepted wildlife management practices, would have a detrimental impact on conservation in Oregon. As stated by Senator David Brock-Smith in the recent release, “Historically, sportsmen contribute 45-55% of ODFW’s budget, comprising the majority of dollars used for wildlife management and conservation. The General Fund, or Oregon’s taxpayer dollars, makes up only 10% of ODFW’s budget, nowhere close to the amount needed to operate the agency and benefit Oregon’s wildlife.” In addition to the loss of funding through the American System of Conservation Funding (ASCF), the agency would also lose the ability to manage wildlife. Lethal conflict removals, hazing, relocation, and animal studies would all be criminalized if the existing exemptions were removed through IP-28.
Senator Anthony Broadman highlighted the personal and cultural stakes of IP-28, “Buying locally raised foods at the local farmers market would be outlawed while restaurant and grocery prices would increase substantially due to the need to ship meat and dairy products in from out of state. Hunting and fishing for food is a part of Oregon’s heritage and for many of us, part of who we are.”
Overnight, the measure would cripple industries such as farming, ranching, dairy, and commercial fishing, and would remove an individual’s ability to harvest quality meat. The Oregon Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus along with the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) and our coalition partners (OSCP) oppose Initiative Petition28 and are currently working together on an educational campaign highlighting the benefits of the North American Model of Wildlife Management and the American System of Conservation Funding, both time-honored, and globally celebrated conservation models. Should the petition gather enough signatures to qualify for the November 2026 ballot, we will fight to protect our sporting heritage and will be calling on all Oregon sportsmen and women to have a strong showing at the polls to oppose this measure.
