Dive Brief:
- If an amendment to the Oregon state constitution can make it to the ballot and passes, the state's local governments may be able to restrict pesticides and GMOs without needing the state's approval for such legislation.
- With this amendment, local governments could override pre-emption by the state, which currently can halt local legislation on most topics, with a simple majority vote.
- Proponents need 117,500 valid signatures for the measure to appear on the Oregon general election ballot in 2016.
Dive Insight:
Opponents fear the other implications such immunity to pre-emption might have. With the passing of such an amendment, much more than just GMO legislation would be on the table at the local government level with no state pre-emption to unify the localities. Scott Dahlman, policy director for Oregonians for Food and Shelter, an agribusiness group that sides with state pre-emption of GMO and pesticide legislation, said, “I think it would be an absolute boondoggle if it passes, not just for agriculture but a host of other issues," Capital Press reported.