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 a property with five or more campsites available for temporary use. Under the new law, each camper assumes the risk of injury from inherent camping hazards. However, this assumption of risk does not shield campground owners or operators from liability 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 that informs campers of their assumption of risk for injuries related to camping hazards. This requirement aims to ensure that campers are aware of the risks involved while using private campgrounds, while still holding campground operators accountable for their responsibilities in maintaining a safe environment.