House Bill No. 6982, also known as Public Act No. 25-74, introduces new legal provisions regarding liability for injuries that occur while camping at private campgrounds, effective October 1, 2025. The bill defines key terms such as "camper," "camping," and "private campground," establishing that a private campground is any land with five or more campsites available for temporary use. Under the new law, each camper assumes the risk for injuries arising from the inherent hazards of camping. However, this assumption of risk does not limit the liability of campground owners or operators in cases of negligence, intentional harm, disregard for safety, failure to exercise reasonable care, or failure to post adequate warning signs about known dangers.

Additionally, the bill mandates that any written contract between a private campground owner and a camper must include a clearly readable warning notice stating that campers assume the risk for injuries related to camping hazards. This requirement aims to ensure that campers are fully informed of the risks involved in their activities at private campgrounds. The bill does not delete any existing legal language but adds these new provisions to enhance clarity and accountability in the camping experience.