SF4843

Purpose

To modify immunity protections related to agritourism activities by amending Minnesota Statutes, specifically to address agritourism activities connected with offroad vehicle trails. The bill aims to clarify what counts as an agritourism activity and who is covered, with a focus on reducing liability exposure for agritourism providers.

Main Provisions

• Amends Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 604A.40 subdivision 1 to redefine key terms used in relation to agritourism.
• Defines “Agricultural products” to include livestock, aquacultural products, poultry, horticultural, floricultural, viticultural, silvicultural, or other farm or ranch products.
• Expands “Agritourism activity” to include a broad range of activities on a farm or ranch that are open to organizations or the general public for recreational, entertainment, charitable, or educational purposes. This includes farming, viticulture, winemaking, ranching, offroad vehicle trails, historical or cultural farm stays, gleaning, harvest-your-own activities, and other natural activities and attractions.
• Defines “Agritourism professional” as a person engaged in one or more agritourism activities, regardless of compensation.
• Defines “Farm or ranch” as land used for production, cultivation, growing, harvesting, or processing agricultural products.
• Defines the “Inherent risks of agritourism activity” to include natural hazards, conditions of land/vegetation/water, behavior of wild or domestic animals, and ordinary dangers of structures or equipment used in farming or ranching.
• Defines “Participant” as a person other than an agritourism professional who engages in an agritourism activity and understands the inherent risks involved.

Significant Changes

• Inclusion of offroad vehicle trails within the scope of agritourism activities.
• Formal definitions that distinguish agritourism activities, professionals, participants, and inherent risks, which underpin any modified immunity protections.
• Clarifies that people involved in agritourism activities, and the activities themselves, are governed by these updated definitions, potentially altering liability considerations for providers.

Relevant terms agribusiness? (not used) agritourism, agritourism activity, agritourism professional, offroad vehicle trails, farm or ranch, agricultural products, inherent risks, participant, historic or cultural farm stay, gleaning, harvest-your-own, viticulture, winemaking, ranching, natural hazards, ordinary dangers of structures or equipment.