SB 1517
Provides that an operator may require a participant in a sport, fitness or recreational activity to release the operator for claims for ordinary negligence under certain circumstances.
Jurisdiction
Oregon
Session
2026 Regular Session
At the request of
(at the request of Senate Interim Committee on Judiciary)
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Sign in to take actionPublic sentiment
Support
5%
Oppose
95%
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Bill overview
This bill allows operators of sports, fitness, and recreational activities to require participants to sign a release waiving liability for ordinary negligence. However, the release cannot cover claims for gross negligence, intentional acts, injuries outside the activity itself, equipment-related issues, violations of safety standards, negligent supervision, or failure to warn of known hazards. Certain types of claims, such as those related to vehicle operation, are also excluded from the release.
Sponsors
Official sponsors from legislative records.
Primary sponsor
Senate Interim Committee on Judiciary
Arguments in favor
Reasons to support this legislation.
Supporters of the bill advocate for a fair and balanced update to the Oregon Ski Statute, aiming to establish reasonable duties for ski area operators to ensure customer safety. They express concern that current enforceable waivers may limit customers' rights and pose significant burdens on small businesses, such as guiding services, which rely on these waivers to operate. Many supporters believe that the bill would help prevent reactionary businesses from operating in various jurisdictions, making users responsible for their actions and preserving recreational uses. Additionally, they urge support for amendments that adopt recreational liability standards applicable in other states, providing safe and accessible opportunities for residents and visitors while managing inherent risks through well-crafted recreation liability waivers.
Source: Testimony Summaries
Arguments opposed
Reasons to oppose this legislation.
Opponents of Senate Bill 1517 argue that the bill's narrow focus on ski areas isolates one segment of the recreation sector without addressing the broader insurance crisis affecting all providers. They contend that the bill's ambiguous provisions, lack of enforceable waivers for other recreation providers, and failure to address parental releases create inequity, confusion, and instability in the industry. Many concerns about the bill's potential to increase liability exposure, drive up insurance costs, and harm small businesses, local economies, and vulnerable groups, such as nonprofits and high school teams. The bill is seen as an imbalanced approach that shifts responsibility for mountain safety onto operators, creating an impossible standard and favoring larger entities while leaving smaller operators vulnerable.
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