SAM Magazine-Helena, Mont., Jan. 16, 2009-The Montana House of Representatives is considering an assumption of risk law to protect a wide range of recreation businesses from liability lawsuits. The bill would shift the burden for managing the inherent risks in many sports to participants, much like ski-related assumption of risk laws in many other states.

Tourism and recreation businesses turned out at a recent hearing to urge support for the bill, which is similar to one introduced in 2005. They declared the absence of legal protection from lawsuits related to inherent risks threatens the livelihood of many small recreation businesses, which face high insurance costs. The Montana Trial Lawyers Association helped defeat the 2005 proposal and opposes the current bill. \