BFA-backed bills move forward before Ohio legislature's summer 2026 recess

The Ohio General Assembly is about to recess for the summer, but not before making moves on some key gun-related bills supported by Buckeye Firearms Association, including one that is on the governor's desk.

Senate Bill 273 (as Sub. SB 273), which passed the Senate 32-0 in November 2025 and the House 95-0 on June 9, 2026, was sent to Gov. Mike DeWine on June 12 for his signature. The bill, known as the "Keep The Safe Act," provides guidelines and civil immunity for the voluntary storage of firearms. BFA testified in favor of SB 273.

Senate Bill 214, which would remove firearm mufflers and suppressors from the classification of dangerous ordnance, passed the Senate in March 2026 and has had two hearings in the House Public Safety Committee, most receltly June 9. BFA provided proponent testimony.

Senate Bill 278, which would add teeth to Ohio's preemption laws by permitting individuals to seek punitive or exemplary damages against municipal corporations that pass local gun control measures, passed the Senate in April 2026 and has had one hearing in the House Judiciary Committee. BFA provided proponent testimony.

House Bill 126 isn't a gun or ammunition bill per se but is somewhat similar to the federal Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act in that it would prohibit public nuisance actions concerning product liability. HB 126 passed the House in May 2025 and had its fourth hearing May 13, 2026, in the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Here's a rundown of the status of all bills we support, in numeric order starting with the Ohio Senate:

SB 59 - EXEMPT FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION FROM SALES TAX (Sponsors: Al Cutrona, Tim Schaffer) To exempt from the sales and use tax the sale of certain firearms and ammunition and to authorize refundable tax credits for small arms and ammunition manufacturing projects. STATUS: Stalled in the Senate Ways and Means Committee since January 2025.

SB 96 - AUTHORIZE A TAX CREDIT FOR HANDGUN TRAINING AND FIREARMS STORAGE (Sponsors: Hearcel Craig, Willis Blackshear) To authorize a nonrefundable income tax credit for the cost of handgun training and firearms storage and locking devices. STATUS: Stalled in the Senate Ways and Means Committee since February 2025.

SB 214 - REMOVE FIREARM SUPPRESSORS FROM DANGEROUS ORDNANCE (Sponsor: Kyle Koehler) To remove firearm mufflers and suppressors from the classification of dangerous ordnance. STATUS: Passed the Senate in March 2026 and has had two hearings in the House Public Safety Committee, most recently June 9. See BFA's proponent testimony.

SB 273 - PROVIDE CIVIL IMMUNITY FOR THE VOLUNTARY STORAGE OF FIREARMS (Sponsor: Kyle Koehler) To enact the Keep Them Safe Act to provide guidelines and civil immunity for the voluntary storage of firearms. STATUS: AWAITING GOVERNOR'S SIGNATURE. Passed the Senate 32-0 in November 2025 and had four hearings in the House Public Safety Committee and one hearing June 9 in the House Finance Committee, where it passed unanimously. The House then passed the measure 95-0 as Substitute Senate Bill 273 on June 9. See BFA's proponent testimony.

SB 278 - PERMIT MONETARY DAMAGES AGAINST CITIES WITH GUN CONTROL (Sponsor: Terry Johnson) To permit individuals to seek punitive or exemplary damages against municipal corporations that pass gun control measures. STATUS: Passed the Senate in April 2026 and has one hearing in the House Judiciary Committee. See BFA's proponent testimony.

SB 279 - MAKE IT ILLEGAL TO PROHIBIT AN OFF-DUTY OFFICER FROM CARRYING A FIREARM (Sponsor: Terry Johnson) To prohibit a business, state agency, or political subdivision from discouraging or prohibiting a law enforcement officer from carrying a weapon while off duty. STATUS: Stalled in the Senate General Government Committee since November 2025.

SB 303 - ALLOW 18-21 YEAR OLDS TO PURCHASE A HANDGUN FROM A FEDERAL DEALER (Sponsor: Terry Johnson) To allow a person who is between eighteen and twenty-one years old to receive or purchase a handgun from a federally licensed firearms dealer. STATUS: Stalled in the Senate General Government Committee since November 2025.

SB 392 - IMPROVE LAWS ON CONCEALED CARRY, WEAPON TYPES, CARRY LOCATIONS (Sponsors: Al Cutrona, Terry Johnson) To enact the Freedom to Carry Act to rename a concealed handgun license a concealed weapons license, to allow a concealed weapons licensee to carry a concealed deadly weapon other than an exclusive deadly weapon, and to allow the possession or transportation of a loaded firearm while in a motor vehicle or vessel. STATUS: First hearing held May 20, 2026, in the Senate General Government Committee. This bill was introduced March 23, 2026.

SB 413 - REPEAL PROHIBITIONS ON TRANSPORTING FIREARMS IN A MOTOR VEHICLE (Sponsor: Tim Schaffer) To modify the circumstances in which a lawful person may transport a loaded firearm in a motor vehicle and loosen requirements for transporting long guns. STATUS: Referred to the Senate Armed Services, Veterans Affairs and Public Safety Committee on April 15, 2026. This bill was introduced April 1, 2026.

HB 5 - RESTORE RIGHTS OF NON-VIOLENT OFFENDERS (Sponsors: Josh Williams, Bernard Willis) To crack down on repeat felons and restore rights for non-violent offenders who have paid their debt to society and have lived a productive life. STATUS: Passed the House in May 2025 but has been stalled in the SEnate Judiciary Committee since October 2025. See BFA's proponent testimony.

HB 68 - ALLOW CONCEALED CARRY IN GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS (Sponsors: Adam Mathews, Justin Pizzulli) To allow a concealed handgun licensee to carry a deadly weapon or dangerous ordnance in a building or structure that is not a courthouse. STATUS: Stalled since its fourth hearing in the House Public Safety Committee in June 2025. See BFA's proponent testimony.

HB 108 - ENACT THE SELF-DEFENSE PROTECTION ACT (Sponsor: Josh Williams) To create a pretrial procedure for a person asserting self-defense, defense of another, or defense of that person's property. STATUS: Stalled since second hearing in June 2025. See BFA's proponent testimony.

HB 120 - EXEMPT FIREARM SAFETY DEVICES FROM SALES TAX (Sponsors: Darnell Brewer, Jennifer Gross) To exempt from sales and use tax sales of firearm safety devices. STATUS: Stalled in the House Ways and Means Committee since May 2025.

HB 126 - PROHIBIT CERTAIN PUBLIC NUISANCE ACTIONS (Sponsors: Adam Mathews, Meredith Craig) To prohibit public nuisance actions concerning product liability. NOTE: This state-level bill, though not specific to gun or ammunition manufacturers, is similar in nature to the federal Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act. STATUS: Passed the House in May 2025 and had its fourth hearing May 13, 2026, in the Senate Judiciary Committee.

HB 235 - AUTHORIZE A TAX CREDIT FOR HANDGUN TRAINING AND FIREARMS STORAGE (Sponsors: Meredith Lawson, Darnell Brewer) To authorize a nonrefundable income tax credit for the cost of handgun training and firearms storage and locking devices. STATUS: Stalled in the House Ways and Means Committee since April 2025.

HB 330 - AUTHORIZE A SALES TAX HOLIDAY FOR FIREARM SAFETY, STORAGE DEVICES (Sponsors: Kellie Deeter, Tex Fischer) To authorize a sales tax holiday for four months each year for the sale of firearm safety and storage devices. STATUS: Stalled since its second hearing March 18, 2026, in the House Ways and Means Committee.

HB 331 - REMOVE FIREARM SUPPRESSORS FROM DANGEROUS ORDNANCE (Sponsors: Kellie Deeter, Tex Fischer) To remove firearm mufflers and suppressors from the classification of dangerous ordnance. STATUS: Stalled in the House Public Safety Committee since June 2025. See Senate Bill 214.

HB 382 - ENACT THE SECOND AMENDMENT PROTECTION ACT (Sponsor: Tex Fischer) To enact the Second Amendment Protection Act to safeguard the right to keep and bear arms. STATUS: Stalled in the House Public Safety Committee since September 2025.

HB 460 - ALLOW SPECIFIED OFFICALS TO CARRY A HANDGUN IN A GOVT. FACILITY (Sponsors: Thad Claggett, Bernard Willis) To allow members of the General Assembly, statewide elected officials, judges, and magistrates to carry a concealed handgun in a government facility of the state or a political subdivision. STATUS: Stalled in the House Public Safety Committee since October 2025.

HB 495 - UPGRADE OHIO'S CONCEALED HANDGUN LICENSE TO A CONCEALED WEAPONS LICENSE (Sponsors: Jennifer Gross, Josh Williams) To enact the Freedom to Carry Act to rename a concealed handgun license a concealed weapons license and to allow a concealed weapons licensee to carry a concealed deadly weapon other than an exclusive deadly weapon. STATUS: Stalled in the House Public Safety Committee since October 2025.

HB 498 - ENACT THE OHIO SELF-DEFENSE ACT (Sponsors: Beth Lear, Monica Robb Blasdel) To modify the law regarding self-defense, which includes expanding castle doctrine, clarifying use of force to stop a forceable felony, creating a financial penalty for unjustified lawsuits or prosecutions, establishing a pretrial hearing to determine immunity from criminal prosecution, limiting police discretion and creating a legal shield before trial. STATUS: Stalled in the House Public Safety Committee since October 2025.

To see where BFA stands on all gun-related legislation, check out our Legislation page.

Joe D. "Buck" Ruth, a pen name for Scott Hummel, is a longtime small-game hunter and gun owner who spent nearly three decades in the news industry. He is the website and social-media manager for Buckeye Firearms Association.