Erik Weiseth (IOGA) and Aaron Lieberman (America Outdoors Association) cover the major policy issues facing outfitters and guides, then sit down with Jessica Turner, President of the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable, for a wide-ranging conversation on federal recreation policy, coalition strategy, and an emerging push to connect outdoor recreation with the American healthcare system.
Aaron opens with an update on AO's new endorsed insurance program through CBiz Adventure Sports, offering AO members up to 10% off core coverage premiums — a direct response to survey data showing over 90% of outfitters saw premiums rise or coverage drop in the past year. From there, the conversation moves to the Outfitter and Guide Relief (ORG) Act, AO's effort to carve outfitters and guides out of FLSA overtime requirements that have forced operators to cut guide hours and jack up prices. A Senate companion bill from Sen. Steve Daines is imminent, and guide testimonials from affected workers are urgently needed.
The two then break down the roadless rule situation — three parallel tracks (House legislation, Senate amendment to the Wildfire Prevention Act via Sen. Mike Lee, and USDA administrative repeal) — and what outfitters should actually be doing right now. They close the policy roundup with an Arizona liability waiver win: legislation signed by Governor Hobbs that clarifies the enforceability of waivers and inherent risk doctrine, similar to what Idaho passed previously.
The interview with Jess Turner is the centerpiece. She walks through the just-completed Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee markup of the America the Beautiful Act — a $10 billion Legacy Restoration Fund reauthorization that passed without a single nay vote in one of the most divided committees in Congress. She explains what that money actually does (deferred maintenance on trails, boat launches, campgrounds, visitor infrastructure), how the House version includes a 15% recreation/sportsman carve-out that may not survive the conference, and what the foreign visitor fee issue means for outfitters taking international clients. Timeline: potentially signed before July 4th.
The back half of the interview pivots to ORR's America's Outdoor Era health initiative — the argument that outdoor recreation is an upstream, preventative healthcare solution, and the emerging policy and private-sector pathways (HSA/FSA reform, employer benefits programs, hospital partnerships, medical provider training) to formalize that connection. Jess also walks through how ORR maintains its massive, diverse coalition by staying out of place-based conflicts and focusing on process, business stability, and the issues where everyone agrees.
The episode closes with news that Iowa became the 25th state to establish an Office of Outdoor Recreation, and a reminder to mark calendars for the IOGA Annual Meeting (December 1–3, Tamarack Resort) and the America Outdoors Conference and Expo (December 8–11, Oklahoma City).
