CWA Blog Archive-A Win For Climbing Gyms In Oregon

A Win For Climbing Gyms In Oregon - SB 1517 Is Passed

Pdf Summary

After more than a decade in a shaky legal environment, Oregon's climbing gyms finally have support for their use of waivers. Senate Bill 1517, signed into law in early 2026, restores the enforceability of liability waivers in the state and brings Oregon in line with nearly every other western state. The problem traces back to the 2014 Oregon Supreme Court ruling in Bagley v. Mt. Bachelor, which found a signed waiver unconscionable and effectively unenforceable. That decision didn't decide whether the resort was negligent. It simply meant Oregon businesses could no longer rely on waivers to filter out meritless claims of ordinary negligence. The fallout was immediate. At one point all but one ski area insurer left the state, and climbing gyms, fitness studios, and outdoor recreation businesses saw premiums spike even after years without a single claim. Fixes in 2023 and 2025 failed despite bipartisan support. Protect Oregon Recreation, a coalition that grew past 125 organizations across recreation, fitness, outdoor, and environmental sectors, kept the pressure on until SB 1517 crossed the finish line. The CWA supported the legislation throughout and amplified the coalition's communications. This matters beyond Oregon. It shows what organized, cross-sector advocacy can accomplish, and it offers a template for operators in other states facing similar waiver challenges. Waivers are only one layer of risk management, but losing their enforceability destabilizes the insurance market that every gym depends on. For CWA members, the win is both practical relief in Oregon and proof that industry advocacy moves the needle.

Asset Caption

Oregon's SB 1517 restores the enforceability of liability waivers, reversing a decade of fallout from the 2014 Bagley v. Mt. Bachelor ruling. Backed by the CWA and the 125-member Protect Oregon Recreation coalition, it stabilizes insurance for gyms and offers a template for advocacy in other states.