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Committee backs Olympic legacy liability change to align park coverage with ski resorts
Summary
The committee passed House Bill 541 to expand inherent risk language and limit liability at Utah Olympic Park to align with local ski resort liability standards; sponsor said rising insurance costs have eroded the park’s endowment.
The Senate committee voted unanimously to pass out House Bill 541, the Olympic legacy liability amendments, which adds the Utah Olympic Park to statutory language recognizing the inherent risk of winter sports and aligns certain liability limits with those applied at local ski resorts.
Representative Hawkins, the bill sponsor, said the Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation faces sharply rising insurance costs that have reduced the foundation’s endowment and operational capacity. He told the committee the foundation spends roughly $1.5 million a year on insurance — a fourfold increase since 2006 — and that the endowment has fallen to about $41 million since the 2022 Olympic legacy gift.
Why it matters: Supporters said aligning liability treatment with comparable resort operations provides predictable coverage and helps sustain winter‑sports facilities that generate economic and recreational benefits for Utah. No public opposition appeared in committee and the bill advanced with a favorable recommendation.
Ending: The committee sent HB541 to the full Senate with unanimous support.
