SB 1517

83rd OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2026 Regular Session
  Enrolled
  Senate Bill 1517
Printed pursuant to Senate Interim Rule 213.28 by order of the President of the Senate in conform-
    ance with presession filing rules, indicating neither advocacy nor opposition on the part of the
    President (at the request of Senate Interim Committee on Judiciary)
  CHAPTER .................................................
  AN ACT
Relating to civil litigation; and declaring an emergency.
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
    SECTION 1. (1) As used in this section:
    (a) “Operator” means a person that:
    (A) Offers a person the opportunity to participate in a sport, fitness or recreational ac-
tivity; or
    (B) Operates or provides a facility or place where a person can participate in a sport,
fitness or recreational activity.
    (b) “Sport, fitness or recreational activity” means an indoor or outdoor activity involving
elements of inherent risk, including but not limited to hunting, fishing, swimming, boating,
rafting, biking, camping, skiing, snowboarding, winter sports, team and individual sports,
climbing, equestrian and rodeo activities, hiking, outfitter guiding, environmental restoration
and maintenance, ocean and water sports, motorized recreation, athletic or fitness competi-
tions, fitness activities and training activities.
    (2) Except as provided in subsection (3) of this section, an operator may require a par-
ticipant in a sport, fitness or recreational activity who is 18 years of age or older, or a parent
or guardian on behalf of a participant in a sport, fitness or recreational activity who is under
18 years of age, to release the operator from any claim for damages for injuries to the par-
ticipant resulting from ordinary negligence that arises out of the sport, fitness or recre-
ational activity, or out of volunteering to maintain facilities or places used for a sport,
fitness or recreational activity, if the participant or parent or guardian voluntarily signs a
clear and unambiguous written release disclosing risks associated with the sport, fitness or
recreational activity or volunteering and waiving the operator’s liability for damages for in-
juries resulting from those risks. A release described in this subsection is not per se
unconscionable or void as contrary to public policy.
    (3) An operator may not require a person to release the operator from the following
types of claims:
    (a) Claims for greater than ordinary negligence, including gross negligence, reckless
conduct, willful misconduct or intentional torts.
    (b) Claims for negligence per se.
Enrolled Senate Bill 1517 (SB 1517-B)  Page 1
    (c) Claims relating to the maintenance or inspection of safety equipment supplied by the
operator and used in connection with the sport, fitness or recreational activity or volun-
teering.
    (d) Claims relating to negligent safety-related training of an employee or agent of the
operator whose conduct causes injury.
    (e) Claims relating to abuse, as defined in ORS 419B.005, or physical or sexual assault of
an adult.
    (f) Claims relating to the negligent hiring, training, credentialing, supervision or re-
tention of an employee or agent of the operator whose conduct that causes injury constitutes
gross negligence, reckless conduct, willful misconduct or an intentional tort.
    (g) Claims relating to the operation or use of any vehicle, including but not limited to
automobiles, buses, vans, snowmobiles, snow cats, all-terrain vehicles, utility terrain vehicles
or side-by-sides, including if the vehicle is used for transportation to or from the location
where the sport, fitness or recreational activity or volunteering takes place, unless the par-
ticipant uses the vehicle as part of the sport, fitness or recreational activity or volunteering
itself.
    (4) A release that is broader than the release described in subsections (2) and (3) of this
section shall be construed within the limits stated in subsections (2) and (3) of this section.
    (5) In a claim for damages for injuries to a participant sustained while the participant is
engaged in a sport, fitness or recreational activity or volunteering to maintain facilities or
places used for a sport, fitness or recreational activity, whether a risk is inherent to the
sport, fitness or recreational activity or volunteering is a question of law.
    (6) This section does not limit or modify the provisions of ORS 30.970 to 30.990.
    SECTION 2. Section 1 of this 2026 Act applies to releases, whether executed before, on
or after the effective date of this 2026 Act, of claims that arise on or after the effective date
of this 2026 Act.
    SECTION 3. This 2026 Act being necessary for the immediate preservation of the public
peace, health and safety, an emergency is declared to exist, and this 2026 Act takes effect
on its passage.
Passed by Senate February 24, 2026  Received by Governor:
Repassed by Senate March 6, 2026  ........................M.,........................................................., 2026
  Approved:
        ..................................................................................   ........................M.,........................................................., 2026
  Obadiah Rutledge, Secretary of Senate
  ..................................................................................
        ..................................................................................  Tina Kotek, Governor
  Rob Wagner, President of Senate
  Filed in Office of Secretary of State:
Passed by House March 5, 2026
  ........................M.,........................................................., 2026
        ..................................................................................
  Julie Fahey, Speaker of House  ..................................................................................
  Tobias Read, Secretary of State
Enrolled Senate Bill 1517 (SB 1517-B)  Page 2