by Sara Odendahl, Director of Government Affairs, Bend Chamber
Throughout the 2025 session, we are sharing highlights on key issues and Chamber priorities from Salem. This week, we’re focusing on issues to support our recreation and outdoor industry.
The 2025 session is nearly a month into the 160-day term, and to date, over 3,000 bills have been introduced. We are quickly approaching the first deadline wherein bills must be scheduled for a public hearing or be lost for the session. That deadline will cull a substantial number of bills and focus the Legislature on key issues that have traction to advance.
This session, the Chamber is tracking over 150 bills in a variety of issue areas, from economic development and tax reform to childcare and housing issues. In short, there is a lot under discussion in Salem. Earlier this week, the Chamber was in Salem to testify on a priority bill that supports our recreation and outdoor industries – HB 3140.
In 2014, the Oregon Supreme Court ruled that businesses may be sued for negligence even when someone engaging in sports or recreation has signed a waiver. Since then, additional lawsuits have been filed against recreational operators in situations where someone has signed a waiver and has then been injured while engaging in sports and recreation. House Bill 3140 enables the use of liability waivers for claims of ordinary negligence relating to sports, fitness, or recreational activity.
The Bend Chamber supports this bill as part of a large coalition, Protect Oregon Recreation. The recreation industry is a critical sector of our economy in Central Oregon, as the region supports numerous large companies in addition to serving as an incubator for start-ups and local small businesses. The impacts are far reaching, as local recreation enthusiasts and visitors spent more than $380 million in Bend alone in 20231. This spending supported 3,470 full- and part-time jobs, making it one of our community’s most vibrant industry sectors. However, the current liability climate makes it extremely difficult to ensure businesses operate in this space, and the Bend Chamber supports its passage.
The bill is currently pending a work session and future debate in Committee and on the floor of the House. For more information about HB 3140 and to share your story or join the coalition, please visit the Protect Oregon Recreation website. To view the Chamber’s full letter of support, please click here.
Recent Comments