What's happening
This bill expands liability protections for New York landowners who permit any recreational use of their property.
Why it matters
Broadens protection for landowners. by covering "any other recreational use," meaning landowners are less likely to be sued if someone is injured while participating in activities not specifically listed—this could encourage more land to be opened for public enjoyment.
Reduces barriers for new and emerging recreational activities. (like mountain biking, disc golf, or drone flying), since owners no longer need to worry whether a particular use is protected; this can help recreation keep pace with changing interests.
Clarifies owners' responsibilities. by specifying that they do not have to maintain safety or warn about hazards for *any* recreational users, making legal obligations more predictable and possibly lowering insurance and legal costs for landowners.
Albany, before your first meeting.
Every bill that moved yesterday, summarized in a sentence and ranked by impact. The Albany Scorecard follows on Sundays.
Free. Unsubscribe in one click. Want alerts on specific bills? Create an account.
Who cares
Landowners, lessees and occupants
The bill would expand their existing no-duty protections to cover passage over premises and any recreational use, beyond the activities already listed.
Participants in unlisted recreational activities
The bill would extend to their activities the rule that property owners need not keep premises safe or warn of hazards.
Hikers, cyclists and horseback riders
The bill would expressly include passage over premises in the existing rule limiting landowners’ duty to keep property safe for these users.
Headline styles
Limit Landowner Liability for Recreation
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
9 Co-sponsors
2 Multi-sponsors
History
- Referred to judiciary
- Referred to judiciary
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Limit Landowner Recreation Liability
In Senate Committee · Judiciary · Sponsor Patty Ritchie
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
650
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 9, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. GUNTHER, COOK, SKOUFIS, CROUCH, GOODELL, MONTESA- NO, STEC, FRIEND, BRABENEC -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. BARCLAY, HAWLEY -- read once and referred to the Committee on Judiciary
AN ACT to amend the general obligations law, in relation to the liability of landowners who permit recreational uses
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Paragraph a of subdivision 1 of section 9-103 of the general obligations law, as separately amended by chapters 141 and 286 of the laws of 1984, is amended to read as follows:
a. an owner, lessee or occupant of premises, whether or not posted as provided in section 11-2111 of the environmental conservation law, owes no duty: (1) to keep the premises safe for entry, passage over premises or use by others for hunting, fishing, organized gleaning as defined in section seventy-one-y of the agriculture and markets law, canoeing, boating, trapping, hiking, cross-country skiing, tobogganing, sledding, speleological activities, horseback riding, bicycle riding, hang gliding, motorized vehicle operation for recreational purposes, snowmobile operation, cutting or gathering of wood for non-commercial purposes [or], training of dogs, and any other recreational use; or (2) to give warning of any hazardous condition or use of or structure or activity on such premises to persons entering for such purposes;
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03543-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.