OregonReleases may cover ordinary negligence in sports and recreation
Adults or parents may sign clear releases covering ordinary-negligence injuries during sports, fitness or recreation, but not several serious misconduct claims.
What it does
Sports, fitness and recreation operators may ask adults or parents to sign clear releases for ordinary-negligence injury claims, with important exceptions.
Argument forClear releases may help operators and participants understand which ordinary-negligence injury claims are waived before activities begin.
Argument againstParticipants may lose the ability to seek damages for ordinary-negligence injuries if they or a guardian sign a release.
More detail
An operator may require a participant, or a parent or guardian for a minor, to sign a written release covering injury claims based on ordinary negligence. The rule covers indoor and outdoor sports, fitness and recreational activities, including activities such as swimming, boating, biking, camping, skiing and hiking. The person must voluntarily sign a clear release that explains the activity's risks and gives up claims for injuries resulting from those risks. The release may not cover gross negligence, reckless conduct, intentional wrongdoing, negligence per se, certain safety-equipment or training claims, abuse or assault, specified serious employee misconduct, or most vehicle-operation claims. A broader release is read only within these limits, and the rule does not change ORS 30.970 to 30.990. The text says the measure takes effect on passage, and the rule applies to releases signed before, on or after that date when the injury claim arises on or after that date.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Apr 14Effective date, April 7, 2026.Latest
- Apr 14Chapter 132, 2026 Laws.
- Apr 7Governor Tina Kotek signed.Became Law
- Mar 10Speaker signed.Major
- Mar 10President signed.Major
- Mar 6Senate concurred in House amendments and repassed bill.
- Vote recorded Senate concurred in House amendments and repassed bill. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded Rules suspended. Third reading. Carried by Levy E, Helfrich. Passed. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 6Rules suspended. Third reading. Carried by Levy E, Helfrich. Passed.Passed House
- Mar 5Second reading.Minor
- Mar 5Recommendation: Do pass with amendments and be printed B-Engrossed.Minor
- Mar 4Work Session held.
- Vote recorded Heard and Reported Out with Amendments. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 2Public Hearing held.
- Feb 25Referred to Rules.Minor
- Feb 24First reading. Referred to Speaker's desk.Minor
- Vote recorded Third reading. Carried by Broadman, Prozanski. Passed. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 24Vote explanation(s) filed by Sollman.
- Feb 24Third reading. Carried by Broadman, Prozanski. Passed.Passed Senate
- Feb 23Carried over to 02-24 by unanimous consent.
- Feb 20Second reading.Minor
- Feb 19Recommendation: Do pass with amendments. (Printed A-Eng.)Minor
- Feb 16Work Session held.
- Vote recorded Heard and Reported Out with Amendments. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 16Public Hearing held.
- Feb 4Public Hearing held.
- Feb 2Referred to Judiciary.Minor
- Feb 2Introduction and first reading. Referred to President's desk.Introduced
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