{"id":1815530,"date":"2026-03-09T06:58:33","date_gmt":"2026-03-09T03:58:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1815530"},"modified":"2026-03-09T06:58:33","modified_gmt":"2026-03-09T03:58:33","slug":"oregon-passes-long-awaited-liability-waiver-bill-for-ski-areas-and-recreation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1815530","title":{"rendered":"Oregon Passes Long-Awaited Liability Waiver Bill for Ski Areas and Recreation"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"oregon\"\"oregon\"
Oregon lawmakers have passed a liability waiver bill aimed at saving outdoor recreation industry. | Photo: Mt. Hood Meadows<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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After years of uncertainty and rising insurance costs, lawmakers in Oregon have passed legislation designed to restore some legal protection for the liability waivers used by ski areas, outfitters, and recreation providers across the state.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Senate Bill 1517B<\/a> cleared the Oregon House of Representatives in a 55\u20132 vote on March 5 and passed the Oregon State Senate unanimously the following day.<\/strong> The bill now heads to Governor Tina Kotek for her signature. Supporters hope the measure will help stabilize a liability insurance crisis that has been threatening ski resorts and outdoor recreation businesses throughout Oregon.<\/p>\n

A Decade-Long Problem<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The issue dates back to a 2014 ruling by the Oregon Supreme Court stemming from a snowboard injury case at Mt. Bachelor.<\/strong> In that decision, the court determined that certain liability waivers signed by recreation participants could be considered \u201cunconscionable contracts,\u201d effectively weakening their enforceability.<\/p>\n

Liability waivers are the documents skiers and snowboarders sign before getting on a chairlift or participating in guided activities like rafting trips.<\/strong> They are a cornerstone of the recreation industry because they help define the inherent risks participants accept when engaging in outdoor activities.<\/p>\n

After the ruling, lawsuits against recreation providers increased, and insurers began reassessing their exposure in the state.<\/strong> Many carriers either raised premiums dramatically or left Oregon altogether, leaving ski areas, gyms, and outdoor guides facing much higher insurance costs or difficulty obtaining coverage at all. This past season, only one insurer remained<\/a> for ski areas.<\/p>\n