SB1517 Enacted - Civil Liability Waivers for Sports and Recreation
Summary
Oregon SB1517 has been enacted, permitting operators of sports, fitness, and recreational activities to require participants to waive claims for ordinary negligence under specified circumstances. The law preserves certain claims that cannot be waived and establishes that whether a risk is inherent to an activity is a question of law for courts to determine. The legislation declares an emergency and became effective upon the Governor's signature on April 7, 2026.
What changed
Oregon SB1517 introduces civil liability reforms for sports, fitness, and recreational activity operators, permitting them to require participants to release claims for ordinary negligence under specified conditions. The law explicitly preserves certain categories of claims that cannot be waived, maintaining protections for participants regardless of signed waivers.
Operators and participants in Oregon's sports, fitness, and recreation industries should expect this law to significantly affect how liability is allocated for injuries sustained during recreational activities. The provision making inherent risk determination a question of law means courts will have clear authority to decide whether specific risks are inherent to an activity, potentially simplifying litigation over negligence claims. Businesses in affected sectors should review existing waiver agreements and consult legal counsel to ensure compliance with the new statutory framework.
What to do next
- Review and update participant liability waivers for compliance with new law
- Consult legal counsel regarding which claims may and may not be waived under SB1517
- Train staff on new inherent risk determination standards
Archived snapshot
Apr 15, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
ChangeBridge / Oregon / SB1517 Effective Date SB1517 Senate Bill Effective Date 2026-04-14
Relating to civil litigation; and declaring an emergency.
The Act says that an operator can make a person doing sports, fitness or recreation waive some claims for negligence. The Act says that some types of claims may not be waived. The Act says that whether a risk is inherent to an activity is a question of law. (Flesch Readability Score: 76.5). [Digest: The Act says that an operator can make a person doing sports, fitness or recreation waive some claims for negligence. The Act says that some types of claims may not be waived. (Flesch Readability Score: 82.2).] 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. Specifies certain types of claims that may not be waived. Provides that in a claim for damages for injuries sustained while a participant is engaged in a sport, fitness or recreational activity, whether a risk is inherent to the activity is a question of law. Declares an emergency, effective on passage.
Bill Details
State Oregon
Session 2026 Legislative Measures
Chamber Senate
Official Source olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2026R1/Meas...
LegiScan View on LegiScan
Action History
2026-04-14 S Effective date, April 7, 2026. 2026-04-14 S Chapter 132, 2026 Laws. 2026-04-07 S Governor signed. 2026-03-10 H Speaker signed. 2026-03-10 S President signed. 2026-03-06 S Senate concurred in House amendments and repassed bill. Ayes, 29; Excused, 1--Hayden. 2026-03-05 H Rules suspended. Third reading. Carried by Levy E, Helfrich. Passed. Ayes, 55; Nays, 2--Munoz, Sosa; Excused, 3--Hartman, Levy B, Valderrama. 2026-03-05 H Second reading. 2026-03-04 H Recommendation: Do pass with amendments and be printed B-Engrossed. 2026-03-04 H Work Session held. 2026-03-02 H Public Hearing held. 2026-02-24 H Referred to Rules. 2026-02-24 H First reading. Referred to Speaker's desk. 2026-02-24 S Vote explanation(s) filed by Sollman. 2026-02-24 S Third reading. Carried by Broadman, Prozanski. Passed. Ayes, 16; Nays, 13--Anderson, Drazan, Girod, Golden, Hayden, Linthicum, Meek, Neron Misslin, Robinson, Sollman, Starr, Thatcher, Weber; Excused, 1--Smith DB. 2026-02-23 S Carried over to 02-24 by unanimous consent. 2026-02-20 S Second reading. 2026-02-19 S Recommendation: Do pass with amendments. (Printed A-Eng.) 2026-02-16 S Work Session held. 2026-02-16 S Public Hearing held. 2026-02-04 S Public Hearing held. 2026-02-02 S Referred to Judiciary. 2026-02-02 S Introduction and first reading. Referred to President's desk.
Votes
2026-02-16 Senate Committee Do pass with amendments. (Printed A-Eng.) Yea: 5 Nay: 1 2026-02-24 Senate Third Reading Yea: 16 Nay: 13 2026-03-04 House Committee Do pass with amendments to the A-Eng bill. (Printed B-Eng.) Yea: 7 Nay: 0 2026-03-05 House Third Reading Yea: 55 Nay: 2 2026-03-06 Senate Third Reading in Concurrence Yea: 29 Nay: 0
Committee Referrals
2026-02-02 S Judiciary 2026-02-24 H Rules
Amendments
2026-02-04 Senate Committee On Judiciary Amendment #-1 2026-02-11 Senate Committee On Judiciary Amendment #-3 2026-02-16 Senate Committee On Judiciary Amendment #-6 2026-02-16 Senate Committee On Judiciary Amendment #-3 2026-02-16 Senate Committee On Judiciary Amendment #-6 2026-02-16 Senate Committee On Judiciary Amendment #-7 2026-02-16 Senate Committee On Judiciary Amendment #-7 2026-03-02 House Committee On Rules Amendment #-A8 2026-03-02 House Committee On Rules Amendment #-A11 2026-03-02 House Committee On Rules Amendment #-A14 2026-03-02 House Committee On Rules Amendment #-A15 2026-03-02 House Committee On Rules Amendment #-A18 2026-03-03 House Committee On Rules Amendment #-A19 2026-03-03 House Committee On Rules Amendment #-A8 2026-03-03 House Committee On Rules Amendment #-A11 2026-03-03 House Committee On Rules Amendment #-A14 2026-03-03 House Committee On Rules Amendment #-A15 2026-03-03 House Committee On Rules Amendment #-A18 2026-03-03 House Committee On Rules Amendment #-A20 2026-03-03 House Committee On Rules Amendment #-A21 2026-03-03 House Committee On Rules Amendment #-A23 2026-03-04 House Committee On Rules Amendment #-A25 Adopted 2026-03-04 House Committee On Rules Amendment #-A19 2026-03-04 House Committee On Rules Amendment #-A8 2026-03-04 House Committee On Rules Amendment #-A11 2026-03-04 House Committee On Rules Amendment #-A14 2026-03-04 House Committee On Rules Amendment #-A15 2026-03-04 House Committee On Rules Amendment #-A18 2026-03-04 House Committee On Rules Amendment #-A20 2026-03-04 House Committee On Rules Amendment #-A21 2026-03-04 House Committee On Rules Amendment #-A23
Bill Text Versions
0000-00-00 Introduced 0000-00-00 Introduced 0000-00-00 Engrossed 0000-00-00 Engrossed 0000-00-00 Engrossed 0000-00-00 Enrolled Legislative data powered by LegiScan (CC BY 4.0)
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