Oct. 17, 2018
HARRISBURG – On Wednesday night, the House concurred in Senate amendments to Rep. Dan Moul’s (R-Adams) landowner liability bill, setting up Moul’s landowner protection bill to become law.
House Bill 544, would encourage landowners to open their land and water areas to the public for recreational purposes such as hunting, fishing, hiking and boating. Current law limits landowner liability for such activities as hunting and fishing, except in cases of willful or malicious failure to guard or warn against a dangerous condition, structure or activity on the property.
Moul’s bill would further expand liability protections for landowners when they allow free, public use of their land for recreational activities undertaken for exercise, education and pleasure, including snowmobiling, ATV and motorcycle riding.
“Adams County has a lot of farmland, trails and open spaces that could be available for public use, but landowners who permit such use – at no cost – should not be held liable if someone gets hurt on their land through no fault of the landowner,” Moul said.
A member of the House Tourism and Recreational Development Committee, Moul said his legislation would expand tourism and recreational opportunities while protecting landowners from frivolous lawsuits.
The bill is now awaiting the governor’s signature.
Representative Dan Moul
91st District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Donna Pinkham
717.260.6452
dpinkham@pahousegop.com
RepMoul.com