HB 541 Utah House · 2025 General Session

Olympic Legacy Liability Amendments

HB 541 modifies Utah's liability laws for state-owned or state-financed winter sports facilities, such as those used for the 2002 and 2034 Winter Olympics. It limits operators' liability for injuries caused by "inherent risks" of winter sports (like weather, terrain, or equipment failure not due to gross negligence) and requires operators to notify participants of these limitations. Operators may also include liability caps in participant agreements, with specific monetary limits that can be adjusted over time. This aims to protect the financial stability of these facilities, which support Utah's winter sports economy and Olympic legacy.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

House Passage

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Mar 2025

Signed into Law

Mar 2025

Introduced Feb 24, 2025 Signed Mar 27, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced → Enrolled · 6 edits · Mar 27, 2025

MODERATE

This bill establishes a liability protection framework for winter sports areas in Utah, particularly those built with state funds for Olympic training and events. It defines inherent risks of winter sports, bars claims for injuries caused by these inherent risks, requires operators to provide notice of liability limitations, allows liability waiver agreements, and sets caps on noneconomic damages for claims that are not barred.

Scope change

The bill applies specifically to winter sports areas constructed by the state or state agencies and financed primarily with state funds, which were built to serve as facilities for everyday winter sports training and regular events including Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

DEFINITION

New definitions for 'inherent risks of winter sports' (including weather, terrain conditions, equipment failure, collisions, etc.), 'winter sports', 'winter sports area', 'winter sports area operator', and 'winter sports participant'.

REQUIREMENT

Requires winter sports area operators to provide notice to participants about inherent risks and liability limitations, either through posted signs or signed documents.

Allows winter sports area operators to enter into agreements with participants to waive or release claims for injuries.

TIMELINE

Establishes a $827,000 cap on noneconomic damages for one person and a $3,329,100 aggregate cap per occurrence, with provisions for future adjustment.

ENFORCEMENT

Creates a bar against claims or recovery from operators for injuries resulting from inherent risks of winter sports, overriding certain existing Utah Code sections.

TECHNICAL

Reformats the bill text from a draft version to an enrolled copy with updated line numbers and formatting.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 27, 2025

Signed into law

Governor Signed

executive

Mar 7, 2025

Legislature · Passed

House/ signed by Speaker/ sent for enrolling

legislature

Mar 7, 2025

Lower · Passed

Senate/ signed by President/ returned to House

lower

Mar 5, 2025

Upper · Passed

Senate/ committee report favorable

upper

Mar 5, 2025

Upper · Passed

Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation

upper

Mar 3, 2025

Committee

Senate/ to standing committee

upper

Mar 3, 2025

Introduced

Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced)

upper

Feb 28, 2025

Upper · Passed

House/ passed 3rd reading

upper

Feb 27, 2025

Lower · Passed

House/ committee report favorable

lower

Feb 27, 2025

Lower · Passed

House Comm - Favorable Recommendation

lower

Feb 25, 2025

Committee

House/ to standing committee

lower

Feb 24, 2025

Introduced

House/ 1st reading (Introduced)

lower

1 primary · 1 co-sponsor