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Bill to add recreational aviation to Utah’s recreational-use law circled after floor tech failure
Summary
Representative Barris’s bill to add recreational aviation and protect landowners who allow backcountry landing strips was circled after the House’s bill-calendar system and website failed mid-presentation; the motion to circle passed and the bill was deferred for later consideration.
Representative Barris presented House Bill 208 on Feb. 1, 2012, seeking to clarify that the state’s recreational-use statute includes recreational aviation. Barris said the proposed amendment would protect landowners who allow backcountry landing strips from liability for non-malicious incidents and noted other Western states—Montana, New Mexico, Idaho, and Wyoming—have adopted similar language.
"So this proposed amendment would do to the statute is to clarify that aviation is a recognized recreational activity and it would protect land owners from liability who allow pilots to access their landing strips," Barris said. He described backcountry landing strips as used by aviation enthusiasts for a unique flying and camping experience, located on both private and public lands.
While Barris was presenting, members alerted the chamber that the bill-calendar computer and the public website were down. "Our computers are down," a member reported from the floor; staff and the Speaker acknowledged technical difficulties. Because the chamber’s legislative-calendar system was unavailable, the House voted to "circle" HB 208 — a procedural act that defers further floor action on the bill — and the motion passed.
The sponsor said HB 208 would not create carte-blanche authority for pilots to land on any private landing strip and would not protect operators who engage in malicious behavior. The bill will return for consideration at a later date when floor systems are operating.
Next steps: HB 208 is circled and will be scheduled for a future floor session; staff and legislators indicated they will reintroduce the presentation when the chamber’s bill calendar and website are functional.
