Arkansas

Landowners would be spared liability for people legally using their property for off-highway recreation under H.B. 1833, which passed the state Senate and is awaiting the governor’s signature. The AMA supports these landowner liability laws, because they remove one obstacle to opening more trails for responsible motorized recreation. The laws allow riders to travel at their own risk.

California

Government agencies have been whittling away at the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area, reducing the useable area from an estimated 15,000 acres to about 1,500 acres. And the California Department of Parks and Recreation fears additional restrictions could close the park.

About 300 acres are closed from March through September to protect a bird called the Western Snowy Plover.

And the San Luis Obispo Air Pollution Control District wants park officials to reduce dust emissions by half before 2023. The state parks department believes meeting that requirement would mean shutting down another 500 acres.

The Friends of Oceano Dunes have brought five lawsuits against the San Luis Obispo Air Pollution Control District to try to halt the new restrictions.

Massachusetts

The Freetown, Mass., selectmen tried to put the brakes on the Memorial Enduro, which has been run in the area for 40 years. The event’s course mixes off-road riding in Freetown State Forest with some of Freetown’s main roads, like Chace, Memorial and Slab Bridge. For the first time this year, the police told the Pilgrim Sands Trail Riders they had to obtain a permit from the town. But the board of selectmen initially delayed their decision, placing the event in jeopardy. One of the three selectmen changed his vote after noting that an on-highway rally also used town roads and he feared a discrimination complaint might arise, according to SouthCoastToday.com.

Michigan

Oakland County, Mich., will be getting an off-road park in Groveland and Holly townships. The county commissioners OK’d a 20-year operating agreement with the state Department of Natural Resources, with a 10-year additional option. The Oakland County Parks and Recreation Department will operate the 235-acre park. About 110 acres of the reclaimed mining site will be open for use in summer of 2020. County officials said they have been trying for 20 years to get the project approved.

new york

A coalition of groups is seeking a ban on ATVs in the Adirondacks. The report from the Adirondack Council and the Sierra Club calls for a ban on private ATV use in forest preserve lands and a law prohibiting anyone younger than 16 from operating an ATV. They say ATVs are damaging the ecosystem.

North Carolina

State Rep. John Torbett (R-Gaston) has introduced a bill (H.B. 267) that would allow motorcyclists 21 and older to ride without a helmet if they have one year or more riding experience. The bill also would allow passengers 21 or older to ride without helmets. Helmets would still be required for younger and less experienced riders and passengers.

South Carolina

The AMA is working with South Carolina off-road riders and some from surrounding states to protect about 40 miles of trails in the Francis Marion National Forest. As many as 300 riders use the Wambaw Cycle Trail on weekends. But the U.S. Forest Service is undertaking a 2,600-acre “forest stand conversion” project, which includes taking down trees that shade the trails during the summer months. The logging also will affect use of the trails, with some portions requiring significant remediation. About 750 people have responded to an online petition to halt the timber harvest. Contact the AMA at [email protected] to help.

Texas

S.B. 273 would allow lane splitting in congested traffic if the motorcyclist is traveling no faster than 20 mph and no more than 5 mph faster than surrounding vehicles. The provision would apply only on limited-access or controlled-access highways. The companion bill is H.B. 1270. The AMA supports both bills.

West Virginia

Gov. Jim Justice (R) vetoed a bill (S.B. 676) that would have created an off-road vehicle fund and a list of all roads in the state where ORVs are permitted. The bill was sponsored by state Sen. Mark Maynard (R-Genoa).