Bill > HB521

This bill establishes the Agritourism Promotion Act, which aims to support and protect agricultural tourism businesses in New Mexico by defining key terms and limiting liability for agritourism operators. The bill defines "agritourism" as activities that allow the public to experience rural and agricultural environments, such as farm tours, wine tastings, and harvesting experiences. It provides legal protections for agritourism operators by establishing that they are not liable for participant injuries resulting from "inherent risks of agritourism," which include natural land conditions, animal behaviors, and equipment use, as long as they post specific warning signs at entry points and activity sites. The bill does allow for exceptions to this liability protection if an operator commits willful misconduct, knowingly fails to disclose dangerous conditions, or intentionally injures a participant. Operators are required to obtain insurance coverage and can use assumption of risk as a legal defense. The Office of Superintendent of Insurance is tasked with developing rules for liability insurance accessibility for these businesses, potentially including state-backed insurance programs. The act will take effect on July 1, 2025, and includes a severability clause to ensure that if any part of the law is found invalid, the rest remains in force.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.nmlegis.gov/Legislation/Legislation?chamber=H&legtype=B&legno=521&year=25