Washington State
House of Representatives
Office of Program Research
BILL
ANALYSIS
Environment & Energy Committee
SB 6013
Brief Description: Updating terminology related to ski areas and winter sports activities.
Sponsors: Senators Torres, Chapman, Dozier, Lovelett, Nobles, Stanford and Wilson, J.; by request of Parks and Recreation Commission.
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Updates equipment terms for ski lift devices that are inspected by the State Parks and Recreation Commission.
Hearing Date: 2/18/26
Staff: Matt Sterling (786-7289).
Background:

The State Parks and Recreation Commission (State Parks) manages the system of state parks and has certain other responsibilities pertaining to recreational activities.  One recreational responsibility of State Parks is to oversee the safety of ski lift facilities at ski areas.  Annual ski lift safety inspections must take place prior to each use season.  Ski lift inspectors employed by State Parks must report any deficiencies to State Parks after inspection, and inspectors may condemn lifts that they deem an imminent danger.  Ski lift devices include aerial lifts, surface lifts, and similar devices. 

 

Every operator of any ski lift device available to the public or operated by schools, ski clubs, or similar organizations must:

  • construct, maintain, and provide such devices in a manner to safely and properly receive and transport all persons using the devices; and
  • maintain liability insurance that covers such device for at least $1 million per occurrence. 

 

When using ski lifts or similar devices, all skiers are required to conduct themselves within the limits of their individual ability and not act in a manner that may contribute to the injury of themselves or any other person.  It is prohibited for skiers to:

  • embark or disembark upon a ski lift except at a designated area;
  • throw or expel any object from ski lifts while riding on the device;
  • act in any manner while riding on ski lifts that may interfere with the proper or safe operation of the device;
  • willfully engage in any type of conduct which may injure any person, or place any object in the uphill ski track which may cause another to fall while traveling uphill on a ski lift; or
  • cross the uphill track of ski lifts or other similar devices except at designated locations. 
Summary of Bill:

Aerial tramways, tows, and conveyors are included in the list of ski lift devices that:

  • must be constructed, maintained, and provided by the owner or operator in a manner to safely and properly receive and transport all persons; and
  • maintain liability insurance of at least $1 million per occurrence. 

 

Aerial tramways, tows, and conveyors are added to the list of ski lift devices upon which skiers must conduct themselves within the limits of their individual ability and act in a manner so as not to contribute to the injury of themselves or any other person.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Not requested.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.