Purpose

• Establish liability limits for activities involving motorized recreational vehicles (MRVs) in Minnesota. The bill aims to protect owners, managers, sponsors, and related entities from lawsuits by participants when injuries occur due to inherent risks of MRV activities, while still allowing liability in certain serious circumstances.

Main Provisions

• Creation of liability limits: Participants in MRV-related activities cannot sue owners or sponsors for injuries or deaths caused by the inherent risks of MRV activities.
• Scope of activities: Applies to recreational, competitive, educational, instructional, or exhibition events involving MRVs.
• Warning requirement: Owners/managers must post clearly visible warning signs at the activity site (trail heads, entrances, registration areas, etc.). Signs must meet specific formatting standards and include a warning about inherent risk and assumed risk by participants.
• Recognition of inherent risk: The law defines what counts as the inherent risks of MRVs, including terrain, weather, collisions, operator error, and other hazards related to MRVs.
• Exceptions to liability protection: The liability shield does not apply in cases of gross negligence, willful or wanton misconduct, intentional harm, criminal conduct, or when a person provides a MRV or safety equipment that is unreasonably dangerous and the provider knew of that danger.
• Workers’ compensation and other laws: The bill clarifies that it does not change workers’ compensation rights or defenses or otherwise limit other liability protections available under law.

Key Definitions (from Subdivision 1)

• Gocart: A four-wheeled vehicle with seating for up to two, designed with an open frame or exposed components, without doors or enclosed cabin, and not originally built to meet federal safety standards (CFR Title 49 Part 571) in its basic form.
• Inherent risk of motorized activities: Dangers and hazards that are an integral part of MRV activities, including terrain variations, collisions, operator error, weather-related risks, presence of spectators, and the potential for remote-area medical delays.
• Motorized recreational vehicle (MRV): Includes off-highway vehicles (OHVs), snowmobiles, utility task vehicles (UTVs), golf carts, go-karts, electric-assisted bicycles when primarily motor-driven, motorcycles, motorized bicycles, and motorized foot scooters.
• Participant: Anyone who rides, operates, assists, maintains, or participates in an MRV activity, regardless of whether a fee is paid.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Shift in liability risk: Introduces a broad defense to liability for owners and sponsors of MRV activities, limiting claims for injuries tied to inherent risks.
• Expanded vehicle categories: Explicitly covers a wide range of MRVs, including some smaller or specialized vehicles (e.g., go-karts, electric-assisted bicycles) under the liability protection when used in MRV activities.
• Conditional liability exceptions: Preserves liability in cases of egregious conduct or dangerous equipment provided by others who knew of the danger.
• Mandatory risk communication: Requires explicit warning signage at activity sites to support the liability protection.
• Interaction with other laws: Maintains workers’ compensation and does not alter other rights or defenses outside the stated MRV liability shield.

Relevant Terms - inherent risk - motorized recreational vehicle (MRV) - gocart - open frame / exposed frame components - off-highway vehicle (OHV) - utility task vehicle (UTV) - electric-assisted bicycle (motor engaged) - warning signs (mandatory, clearly visible, black text on contrasting background) - negligence vs. gross negligence / willful misconduct / intentional harm - participation/participant - venue/sponsoring entity (owner, manager, sponsor, etc.) - injuries or death related to MRV activities - warning and assumption of risk language in law