All Roll Calls
Yes: 124 • No: 3
ArkansasSB2032025 Regular SessionSenate
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING OUTDOOR RECREATION ACTIVITIES AND RECREATIONAL TRAMWAYS; AND TO CREATE A RECREATIONAL TRAMWAY SYSTEM FOR STATE PARKS AND FOR OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE STATE.
Sponsored By: Bart Hester (Republican), John Maddox (Republican)
Enacted
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.
Outdoor users face injury claim limits
Arkansas law presumes outdoor recreation participants and tramway passengers understand and accept the activity's inherent risks. You can challenge this by proving you did not know, understand, or voluntarily face the specific risk. Operators have no duty beyond this law's requirements to reduce inherent risks, but operator negligence is not an accepted risk. Operators remain liable for intentional, reckless, grossly negligent, or negligent conduct that directly causes injury, death, or property damage. Your own negligence bars a negligence claim when it helped cause the harm. Operators can use accepted risks or your negligence as defenses. Claims arising under this law against state entities or employees must go to the Arkansas State Claims Commission.
Safety checks and maps for outdoor visitors
Arkansas tramway operators must build, run, and maintain rides safely, with advisory signs at the bottom and near loading areas. They must give riders a reasonable chance for instruction when asked; otherwise, they can reasonably assume permitted passengers know how to ride. Each tramway needs a qualified inspection at least once per calendar year. Where applicable, meeting ANSI Ski Lift Code B77.1-2022, including updates, in effect within the six months before inspection satisfies the inspection standard. Noncompliant tramways must stop operating until certified compliant. State safety inspectors must be available as long as needed to investigate legal violations and operations endangering public health. They can obtain requested records and maintenance documents without an inspection or search warrant; those documents may serve as evidence. Outdoor recreation operators must also maintain prominent boards showing each area's trail network.
Outdoor users must follow safety rules
People using covered Arkansas recreation areas or tramways must use reasonable care and stay within their abilities. You must follow designated routes and posted warnings, control your speed and direction, and avoid placing objects on trails or tracks. You must not participate while impaired by alcohol or drugs. Boarding and exiting must occur at designated places; tramway use also requires operator permission. The law treats users as having seen and understood posted signs, warnings, and notices. After an accident, you must try to get help and notify authorities when someone needs assistance or reasonably appears to. You must provide identification before leaving unless you leave to get help; tramway passengers follow these duties where relevant.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsors
Bart Hester
Republican • Senate
John Maddox
Republican • House
Cosponsors
Austin McCollum
Republican • House
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 2/20/2025
House Vote - Thursday, February 20, 2025 11:34:08 AM
Yes: 95 • No: 3
Senate vote • 2/13/2025
Senate Vote - Thursday, February 13, 2025 10:51:37 AM
Yes: 29 • No: 0 • Other: 3
Actions Timeline
Notification that SB203 is now Act 155
2/25/2025SenateDELIVERED TO GOVERNOR.
2/20/2025SenateReported correctly enrolled and ordered delivered to the Governor.
2/20/2025SenateORDERED ENROLLED
2/20/2025SenateReturned from the House as passed.
2/20/2025SenateReturned to the Senate as passed.
2/20/2025HouseRead the third time and passed and ordered transmitted to the Senate.
2/20/2025HouseReturned by the Committee Do Pass
2/19/2025HouseRead the first time, rules suspended, read the second time and referred to the Committee on AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT- HOUSE
2/13/2025HouseRECEIVED FROM THE SENATE
2/13/2025HouseOrdered immediately transmitted to the House.
2/13/2025SenateRead the third time and passed.
2/13/2025SenateREPORTED CORRECTLY ENGROSSED
2/12/2025SenateAmendment # 1 read the first time, rules suspended, read the second time and adopted, ordered engrossed.
2/12/2025SenatePlaced on second reading for purpose of amendment.
2/12/2025SenateReturned by the Committee with the recommendation that it Do Pass as amended, Amendment # 1
2/11/2025SenateRead first time, rules suspended, read second time, referred to AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT - SENATE
2/5/2025SenateFiled
2/5/2025Senate
Bill Text
SB203 - Introduced
2/5/2025
Act Version
Related Bills
HB1265, AN ACT FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS AT LITTLE ROCK APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 FISCAL YEAR.
HB1237, TO PROHIBIT MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS FROM SOLICITING INJURED INDIVIDUALS; AND TO SET PENALTIES FOR A VIOLATION OF THE PROHIBITION OF SOLICITATION OF INJURED INDIVIDUALS.
HB1686, TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING LICENSES TO CARRY CONCEALED HANDGUNS.
SB440, TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING EMBALMERS AND FUNERAL DIRECTORS; TO REGULATE THE USE OF ALKALINE HYDROLYSIS; AND TO REGULATE ALKALINE HYDROLYSIS FACILITIES.
HB1695, TO CLARIFY THE FORECLOSURE PROCESS FOR PROPERTY SUBJECT TO A MUNICIPAL LIEN; TO ALLOW A MUNICIPALITY TO PETITION TO SET ASIDE THE SALE OF PROPERTY TO CERTAIN PERSONS; AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE PRIORITY OF UNRECORDED MUNICIPAL LIENS.
HR1012, TO AMEND THE RULES OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY; TO REQUIRE THAT A MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES BE SELECTED AS A DESIGNATED SURVIVOR.