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Read. Follow. Verify.Oregon Senate Bill 1593 allows recreation providers to require liability waivers for ordinary negligence
Last action · March 6, 2026: In committee upon adjournment.Sponsors: Mark Meek and 20 others
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What This Bill Proposed
<b>Digest: The Act says that an operator may require a person who does recreation to waive some kinds of claims. (Flesch Readability Score: 71.7).</b> [<i>Digest: The Act says that an operator may require a person who does recreation to release the operator from some types of claims. Tells OBDD to study issues for the recreation industry and make a report. (Flesch Readability Score: 60.9).</i>] Provides that an operator may require [<i>an adult</i>] <b>a </b>person who engages in a sport, fitness or recreational activity in various ways to release the operator from claims for ordinary negligence. [<i>Directs the Oregon Business Development Department to study recreation commerce and report to an appropriate committee or interim committee of the Legislative Assembly no later than December 15, 2026.</i>] Declares an emergency, effective on passage.
Recreation and fitness businesses gain statutory authority to shield themselves from lawsuits, shifting legal risk away from operators and altering the legal recourse available to injured participants or their families.
Who It Would Have Affected
Groups the bill's text would have affected, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
recreation and health and fitness providers
Operators are granted the statutory ability to require liability waivers for ordinary negligence from participants and volunteers.
participants in sports, fitness, or recreational activities
Adult participants and parents or guardians of minors may be required to release operators from claims of ordinary negligence as a condition of participation.
Key Facts
- Operators of sport, fitness, or recreational activities may require adults or parents and guardians of minors to sign a release from ordinary negligence claims before participating, renting equipment, using facilities, or volunteering.
- Liability waivers for ordinary negligence are legally valid and are not considered unconscionable or void as contrary to public policy under the measure.
- Operators are explicitly prohibited from requiring a person to release them from claims involving willful, wanton, reckless, or grossly negligent acts or omissions.
- If a signed release is broader than allowed, it is legally construed within the permitted limits rather than being completely void.
Show all 5 facts
- The legislation does not apply to any claim for which a final judgment with expired appeal rights or no further review was entered before the effective date.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a recreation provider make me sign away my right to sue for gross negligence?
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News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · in Senate committee.
Procedural history
8 actions- Mar 6, 2026SenateIn committee upon adjournment.
- Feb 23, 2026SenateReferred to Rules by order of the President.
- Feb 23, 2026SenateSubsequent referral rescinded by order of the President.
- Feb 23, 2026SenateRecommendation: Do pass with amendments, be printed A-Engrossed, subsequent referral to Judiciary be rescinded and be referred to Rules.
- Feb 11, 2026SenateWork Session held.
- Feb 9, 2026SenatePublic Hearing held.
Show 2 earlier actions
- Feb 2, 2026SenateReferred to Commerce and General Government, then Judiciary.
- Feb 2, 2026SenateIntroduction and first reading. Referred to President's desk.
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Show 16 more sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Retroactive Application of Liability Waivers
The bill applies its new legal standard not only forward but also to existing releases executed before the effective date, provided no final judgment has been entered.
Connected Entities
Sources
olis.oregonlegislature.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance20Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 65)
- Controversy55Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz30Current news / social attention level
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