Oregon SB1517 Permits Negligence Waivers for Sports Operators
Summary
Oregon Governor signed SB1517 into law, permitting operators of sports, fitness, and recreational activities to require participants to waive ordinary negligence claims under specified circumstances. The law designates certain claim categories as non-waivable 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 took effect immediately upon passage.
What changed
Oregon SB1517 enacts a new framework for negligence waivers in the sports, fitness, and recreation sector, permitting operators to require participants to release them from ordinary negligence claims. The law explicitly preserves certain non-waivable claim categories and establishes that the determination of whether a risk is inherent to an activity is a question of law to be decided by courts rather than juries. The legislation was passed as an emergency measure and became effective immediately upon the Governor's signature.
Sports and recreation operators in Oregon should review and update their participant agreements and liability waivers to align with the new statutory framework. Operators must ensure their waivers comply with restrictions on which claim types can be waived. Participants engaging in sports, fitness, or recreational activities should understand that Oregon law now permits operators to shift certain negligence risks through contractual waivers.
What to do next
- Review and update participant liability waiver agreements to comply with SB1517
- Ensure waivers do not attempt to waive non-waivable claim categories under the new law
- Consult legal counsel regarding the inherent risk determination as a question of law
Archived snapshot
Apr 9, 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 Signed by Governor SB1517 Senate Bill Signed by Governor 2026-04-07
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
2026-04-07 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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