Sometime last year there was a post here about Arkansas House Bill 1465, which concerned the liability of dirtbike use on private property. Many other states are and have introduced similar language.
I took this language and modified it slightly to extend the liability coverage to land owners, spectators and event promoters, as well as covering ATVs and SXS under the "off road vehicle" nomenclature. I invited my Indiana rep, Lori Goss-Reaves, to meet with a few of us from the Muddobbers Motorcycle Club to discuss why these protections are important to the off road community. She was in full support and drafted up the legal stuff and introduced Indiana HB 1076 for the 2026 legislative session.
Synopsis: Liability connected with off-road vehicle use. Provides that an owner, a spectator, and a promoter are immune from civil liability arising from a claim brought by a participant or the participant's personal representative concerning the damage to or the loss of the participant's property or the participant's injury or death that results from the inherent risks of off-road vehicle use.
Unfortunately, the rep from Hamilton County (a lawyer as I understand) has too many concerns and will not be bringing it to the floor in this session. We were supposed to have a zoom meeting with him yesterday and he didn't show for it. Apparently there's another off road group who had reached out to both of these reps in support, so word is already getting out about my bill. I also contacted the Indiana Farm Bureau, who loosely supported it. I will continue to work with my rep to get this reintroduced for the next session(s) until it is passed.
There is also another bill (I have no affiliation) that I see as necessary for off road activities, HB 1415. Basically saying that just because you moved next to a racetrack, it doesn't mean that you're entitled to have it shut down for noise complaints. I know the Wabash Cannonball club has dealt with this for decades.
So, I'm asking my moto-loving Indiana brethren here to please call and email their local reps to voice support for both HB 1465 and 1415 in future sessions. We're going to lose our riding areas one day if we don't act.
Here's the language of both bills for your reading pleasure.
HB 1076
https://legiscan.com/IN/text/HB1076/2026
HB 1415
Also, please feel free to reach out to any clubs and race series in the state. I'll be forwarding this to IXCR, MWXC, SIGPS, NEPG, LTMX, Wabash, etc. I don't have any specific contacts, so if you do please send me a PM so I can get this to the right people.
Have you contacted Racer Productions? They might help share the call to action since they have events in Indiana.
Good for you for at least giving it a go !
Todd Huston, your house speaker will be unlikely to let such legislation see the light of day as the trial lawyer lobby has more juice, read ; campaign donations, than the off-road community.
For the next house session ; maybe frame the bill as an economic development item, one of providing opportunity for landowners, small businesses & clubs that support the local community like yours does. House members love that kind of rhetoric.
Maybe there'd be more .. traction to be had with such an argument in favor of the bill ?
Good luck & carry on.
The notion that one dude can just say nah I don't want to let people vote on this is insane.
I don't understand why the insurance industry wouldn't back these bills. They have as much lobbying power as the trial lawyers.
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Does the IN DNR have an ORV committee or similar? It may be worth pursuing via that avenue as well, if they are sympathetic to ORVs.
MI has this, and they take input from clubs and advocacy groups. It's mostly for DNR maintained trails, but they also do other things to further the sport. For example, many townships and counties have ordinances regarding ORV use on the street. These ordinances vary regarding where exactly it's legal to ride, how fast, etc. The DNR ORV Workgroup is trying to get these ordinances to be consistent across the board, which may include introducing legislation at the state level.
It's been my experience with these kinds of things that 90% of the time you're better off attacking it from all angles. As in, get your state rep onboard. Get local Townships to pass resolutions in favor of. Speak about it at DNR meetings. Rope in local moto clubs, but also work with ATV, SXS, and Sled clubs. What you're pushing benefits them as well.
I grew up with an indiana state Rep. i can reach out to him.
That's actually brilliant! The OP should reach out to every insurance company that'll listen. What insurance company wouldn't support a measure which allows them to continue collecting premiums whilst reducing their risk exposure? Get the insurance lobby behind it. Guaranteed they've got more juice than the trial lawyers.
Very cool. I have to give you big props for not just complaining, but getting out there and doing something yourself; a page most of us could take from your book.
Someone call the AMA! They fight for your rights!!
i love sarcasm
I am a board member of the Wabash Cannonball MC and a Hamilton County resident and I’d like to get involved in the fight. Please look for a message from me, and thank you for taking on this fight.
@SlowOldGuy maybe you could have the intern submit these bills for other states?
As intimidating as it seems on the surface, anyone can do it. All it takes is a phone call or email to get the ball rolling. Just by making this post I've already made a couple big contacts.
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