A bill to require hospitals and prisons in Oregon to provide a vegan option at every mealtime will not be moving forward this legislative session.
Most institutions offer non-meat options, but advocates for House Bill 2348 wanted to make sure people had a choice that included no animal products at all, such as eggs or dairy. The bill was opposed by the Oregon Association of Hospitals, which said many of its members already provide the option. The Oregon Department of Corrections was neutral, but the agency said the requirement would increase its costs.
The bill’s chief sponsor was Rep. Marty Wilde, D-Eugene. He said it was hard to convince other lawmakers to make it a priority this session.
But he said he expected the bill to return in future sessions. "I think most of us agree that Oregonians should have access to food that is healthy and in line with their personal ethics," he said.
