Bill > HB0541

This bill establishes a comprehensive legal framework for winter sports activities in Utah, focusing on liability protections for winter sports area operators. The legislation defines "winter sports" broadly to include skiing, snowboarding, ice sports, and sliding sports, and creates specific legal provisions to limit operator liability. The bill articulates the state's public policy supporting winter sports, recognizing their economic importance and Utah's history of hosting major winter sporting events like the Olympics. It defines "inherent risks" of winter sports, which include changing weather conditions, terrain variations, snow and ice conditions, equipment risks, and potential collisions, effectively preventing winter sports participants from making legal claims against area operators for injuries arising from these inherent risks. The bill requires winter sports area operators to provide clear notice of these risks through signage or signed documents and allows participants to waive or release certain claims before an injury occurs. Additionally, the bill caps noneconomic damages in potential lawsuits against winter sports area operators at $827,000 for an individual occurrence and $3,329,100 in aggregate, with exceptions for punitive damages and wrongful death actions. The legislation will take effect on May 7, 2025, providing a clear legal framework to protect winter sports facilities and encourage participation in winter sports activities.

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https://le.utah.gov/~2025/bills/static/HB0541.html