Animal treatment laws ballot measures

Voters have decided on animal treatment laws ballot measures across the U.S. As a state ballot measure topic, this encompasses measures related to the treatment and ownership of animals, including their use in agriculture, gambling, and other industries. The topic is grouped within the environment and energy policy area.

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Upcoming ballot measures

See also: 2026 ballot measures and 2027 ballot measures

The following is a list of state ballot measures related to this topic that are certified or potential for this year and future elections:

2026

1. Oregon Remove Animal Cruelty Exceptions Initiative (2026) - Potential

List of state ballot measures

Click the tabs to view state ballot measures related to this topic, organized by year or state.

Years

States

2026

1. Oregon Remove Animal Cruelty Exceptions Initiative (2026) - Potential

2024

1. Colorado Proposition 129, Veterinary Professional Associate Initiative (2024)

2019

1. Texas Proposition 10, Transfer of Care of Law Enforcement Animals Amendment (2019)

2018

1. California Proposition 12, Farm Animal Confinement Initiative (2018)
2. Florida Amendment 13, Ban on Wagering on Dog Races Amendment (2018)

2016

1. Massachusetts Question 3, Minimum Size Requirements for Farm Animal Containment (2016)
2. Oregon Measure 100, Wildlife Trafficking Prevention Initiative (2016)

2015

1. Washington Animal Trafficking, Initiative 1401 (2015)

2012

1. North Dakota Prevention of Animal Cruelty Initiative, Measure 5 (2012)

2010

1. Missouri Proposition B, Dog Breeding Regulation Initiative (2010)
2. North Dakota Captive Game Animal Killing Prohibited Initiative, Initiated Statutory Measure 2 (2010)

2009

1. Ohio Issue 2, Livestock Care Standards Amendment (2009)

2008

1. California Proposition 2, Farm Animal Confinement Initiative (2008)
2. Massachusetts Question 3, Prohibition on Dog Racing Initiative (2008)

2006

1. Arizona Proposition 204, Confinement of Pregnant Pigs and Calves Raised for Veal Regulations Initiative (2006)

2002

1. Arkansas Animal Cruelty, Proposed Initiated Act 1 (2002)
2. Florida Amendment 10, Treatment of Pregnant Pigs Initiative (2002)
3. Georgia Amendment 6, Animal Sterilization Program Measure (2002)
4. Oklahoma State Question 687, Cockfighting Ban Initiative (2002)

2000

1. Massachusetts Question 3, Dog Racing Prohibition Initiative (2000)
2. Montana Game Farm Reform, I-143 (2000)

1998

1. Arizona Proposition 201, Prohibit Cockfighting Initiative (1998)
2. California Proposition 6, Prohibition on Killing Horses for Human Consumption Initiative (1998)
3. Missouri Proposition A, Animal Baiting and Fighting Prohibition Initiative (1998)

1992

1. Arizona Proposition 200, Unlawful Wildlife Capture Amendment (1992)

1990

1. California Proposition 117, Creation of the Habitat Conservation Fund Initiative (June 1990)

1988

1. Massachusetts Question 3, Treatment and Care of Farm Animal Initiative (1988)

1972

1. Washington Initiative 258, Greyhound Racing Measure (1972)

1956

1. Arkansas Pari-Mutuel Wagering and Horse Racing in Hot Springs, Proposed Amendment 50 (1956)
2. Arkansas Prohibition of Dog and Horse Race Gambling, Proposed Amendment 49 (1956)

1948

1. Colorado Measure 2, Gambling on Horse and Animal Races Measure (1948)

1944

1. Arkansas Repeal Horse and Dog Racing, Initiated Act No. 2 (1944)

1940

1. Colorado Measure 2, Legalization of Horse and Dog Racing Initiative (1940)

1938

1. California Proposition 2, Animal Pound Regulations Initiative (1938)

1930

1. Nevada State Question 2, Rabies Commission and Eradication Program Referendum (1930)

1928

1. California Proposition 21, Animal Sport Restrictions Initiative (1928)

1922

1. California Proposition 28, Prohibition of Vivisection Initiative (1922)
2. Colorado Measure 5, Experimental Operations on Humans and Animals Initiative (1922)

1920

1. California Proposition 7, Vivisection Prohibition Initiative (1920)

1914

1. Minnesota Dog Tax, Amendment 9 (1914)

1912

1. Colorado Measure 23, Branding and Marking of Livestock Referendum (1912)
2. South Dakota Measure 3, Damages for Trespass of Animals Referendum (1912)

1875

1. Ohio Dog Tax Amendment (October 1875)

Arizona

1. Arizona Proposition 200, Unlawful Wildlife Capture Amendment (1992)
2. Arizona Proposition 201, Prohibit Cockfighting Initiative (1998)
3. Arizona Proposition 204, Confinement of Pregnant Pigs and Calves Raised for Veal Regulations Initiative (2006)

Arkansas

1. Arkansas Animal Cruelty, Proposed Initiated Act 1 (2002)
2. Arkansas Pari-Mutuel Wagering and Horse Racing in Hot Springs, Proposed Amendment 50 (1956)
3. Arkansas Prohibition of Dog and Horse Race Gambling, Proposed Amendment 49 (1956)
4. Arkansas Repeal Horse and Dog Racing, Initiated Act No. 2 (1944)

California

1. California Proposition 117, Creation of the Habitat Conservation Fund Initiative (June 1990)
2. California Proposition 12, Farm Animal Confinement Initiative (2018)
3. California Proposition 2, Animal Pound Regulations Initiative (1938)
4. California Proposition 2, Farm Animal Confinement Initiative (2008)
5. California Proposition 21, Animal Sport Restrictions Initiative (1928)
6. California Proposition 28, Prohibition of Vivisection Initiative (1922)
7. California Proposition 6, Prohibition on Killing Horses for Human Consumption Initiative (1998)
8. California Proposition 7, Vivisection Prohibition Initiative (1920)

Colorado

1. Colorado Measure 2, Gambling on Horse and Animal Races Measure (1948)
2. Colorado Measure 2, Legalization of Horse and Dog Racing Initiative (1940)
3. Colorado Measure 23, Branding and Marking of Livestock Referendum (1912)
4. Colorado Measure 5, Experimental Operations on Humans and Animals Initiative (1922)
5. Colorado Proposition 129, Veterinary Professional Associate Initiative (2024)

Florida

1. Florida Amendment 10, Treatment of Pregnant Pigs Initiative (2002)
2. Florida Amendment 13, Ban on Wagering on Dog Races Amendment (2018)

Georgia

1. Georgia Amendment 6, Animal Sterilization Program Measure (2002)

Massachusetts

1. Massachusetts Question 3, Dog Racing Prohibition Initiative (2000)
2. Massachusetts Question 3, Minimum Size Requirements for Farm Animal Containment (2016)
3. Massachusetts Question 3, Prohibition on Dog Racing Initiative (2008)
4. Massachusetts Question 3, Treatment and Care of Farm Animal Initiative (1988)

Minnesota

1. Minnesota Dog Tax, Amendment 9 (1914)

Missouri

1. Missouri Proposition A, Animal Baiting and Fighting Prohibition Initiative (1998)
2. Missouri Proposition B, Dog Breeding Regulation Initiative (2010)

Montana

1. Montana Game Farm Reform, I-143 (2000)

Nevada

1. Nevada State Question 2, Rabies Commission and Eradication Program Referendum (1930)

North Dakota

1. North Dakota Captive Game Animal Killing Prohibited Initiative, Initiated Statutory Measure 2 (2010)
2. North Dakota Prevention of Animal Cruelty Initiative, Measure 5 (2012)

Ohio

1. Ohio Dog Tax Amendment (October 1875)
2. Ohio Issue 2, Livestock Care Standards Amendment (2009)

Oklahoma

1. Oklahoma State Question 687, Cockfighting Ban Initiative (2002)

Oregon

1. Oregon Measure 100, Wildlife Trafficking Prevention Initiative (2016)
2. Oregon Remove Animal Cruelty Exceptions Initiative (2026) - Potential

South Dakota

1. South Dakota Measure 3, Damages for Trespass of Animals Referendum (1912)

Texas

1. Texas Proposition 10, Transfer of Care of Law Enforcement Animals Amendment (2019)

Washington

1. Washington Animal Trafficking, Initiative 1401 (2015)
2. Washington Initiative 258, Greyhound Racing Measure (1972)

See also

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