Legislative Update

The Source Climbing Center is a member of the Washington Indoor Climbing Coalition. Formed in 2021 during the Covid pandemic, WICC organized to represent indoor climbing as a professional industry in Washington State.  Together, with other WICC members, the Source have been supporting HB 2265. Unfortunately, the bill did not make it out of the Rules Committee for a vote in the 2024 legislative Session.

Background

In April of 2023, the Cirque, a member gym in Lacy, WA received a Cease & Desist Letter from Labor & Industries. The letter stated that the facility was operating an amusement ride without a permit, and they must "cease operations immediately.  The letter did not clarify what part of their operations included an amusement ride, and the only further guidance referred to "a structure employing mechanical devices for climbing assistance and fall arrest and suspension/lowering of climbers." This left us wondering...  Is belaying with a rope an amusement ride?  If so, can a participant use their own equipment?

Fortunately, the order was rescinded following a coordinated response by WICC, the CWA and a community members in Olympia, but not until after The Cirque had to spend thousands of dollars on starting the appeal process.

Why Legislation?

While it may seem obvious that climbing a wall is not an amusement ride. the reality is that ambiguity in current state law leaves indoor climbing open to interpretation. If climbing is treated as amusement instead of a sport, it could have wide-ranging negative impacts on how customers experience our facility, the equipment we use, and the type of climbing we can offer. 

The legislative goal is to recognize and regulate rock climbing in a climbing facility as a sport with inherent risks that can be managed by both the climbing facility operators and the participants. 

What was HB 2265?

The Bill was an "act relating to encouraging and protecting the sport of rock climbing".  It established requirements for posting clearly legible rules and warnings for climbing along with conducting inspections of the manufactured climbing walls on a regular periodic basis. Included was an amendment to RCW 67.42.010 clarifying "Amusement ride" does not include fixed, artificial climbing surfaces built for the sport of rock climbing.

What stopped the bill?

The original bill was introduced by Representative Beth Doglio, from The Cirque's district, with strong support from several legislators with climbing gyms in their districts. Working with the Washington State Association for Justice a substitute bill was introduced, which passed through the Committee on Civil Rights & Judiciary with yes votes from Democrat Representatives Taylor, Farivar, Entenman, Goodman, Peterson, Thai and Whalen.  Republican Representatives Walsh, Graham, Abbarno, and Cheney voted no, without recommendation. 

The Rules Committee was the last step before a House vote...  Unfortunately, the bill did not have enough bipartisan support to pass through the Rules Committee before the deadline for a vote on the House floor.

What's next?

WICC plans to work with legislators to re-introduce a bill in the 2025 session.  Meanwhile, WICC is also staying in contact with the Department of Labor & industries to consider any solutions in the meantime.

What can I do?

Some have already written your representative - Thank you!  If you have not contacted your legislator, you can still help continue with a message to our legislators that we need their help to protect indoor climbing as a sport in Washington state. We want to thank the representatives that supported the bill, but we are still needing support from three key legislators in SW Washington. 

• Click to EMAIL Rep. Greg Cheney, 18th District (Battle Ground, Salmon Creek) 
• Click to EMAIL, Rep, Jim Walsh, 19th District (Longview) 
• Click to EMAIL, Rep. Peter Abbarno, 20th District (La Center, Woodland, Ridgefield) 

Outreach will be most important next fall as we approach a new session in 2025.  We want legislators to know why Indoor Climbing is important to you and your community. We also need them to know how sport differs from amusement.  Climber's need spaces to train, practice risk management and learn to use gear properly.