Terra Goodnight · June 15, 2020

Ohio Legislation Watch: Gun Reform Bills

Below is information on pro-reform bills introduced in the 133rd General Assembly with information about their current status and what you can do to support them.

HB 240 (Kelly, Miranda) – Child Access Protection Act

Summary: to ensure firearms are stored safely and securely out of the reach of minors.
Status: Assigned to House Criminal Justice Committee on 5/14/19.
Testimony: Sponsor Testimony of Representatives Miranda and Kelly
Bill Analysis
Fiscal Analysis: Not yet available
What activists can do: Ask Chairman Lang to schedule additional hearings on HB 240

HB 315 (Liston) – Suicide Prevention

Summary: Require gun dealers give suicide prevention information
Status: Assigned to House Health Committee on 9/24/19.
Testimony: Not yet available.
Bill Analysis: Not yet available.
Fiscal Analysis: Not yet available.
What activists can do: Ask Chairman Lipps to schedule a first hearing on HB 315.

HB 316 (Russo, Sweeney) – Extreme Risk Protection Orders (Red Flag Law)

Summary: To enact the Extreme Risk Protection Order Act to allow family members, household members, and law enforcement officers to obtain a court order that temporarily restricts a person’s access to firearms if that person poses a danger to themselves or others.
Status: Assigned to House Health Committee on 9/24/19.
Testimony: Not yet available
Bill Analysis
Fiscal Analysis: Not yet available
What activists can do: Ask Chairman Lipps to schedule a first hearing on HB 316.

HB 317 (Russo, Sweeney) – Universal Background Checks

Summary: To enact the Protect Law Enforcement Act to require a firearm transfer to be made through a dealer, through a law enforcement agency, or pursuant to a specified exception, and to require a background check when a firearm is transferred.
Status: Assigned to House State and Local Government Committee on 9/24/19.
Testimony: Not yet available
Bill Analysis
Fiscal Analysis: Not yet available
What activists can do: Ask Chairman Wiggam to schedule a first hearing on HB 317.

HB 319 (West, A. Miller) – Local Control

Summary: To restore local authority to generally regulate firearms related conduct.
Status: Assigned to House State and Local Government Committee on 9/24/19.
Testimony: Not yet available
Bill Analysis: Not yet available
Fiscal Analysis: Not yet available
What activists can do: Ask Chairman Wiggam to schedule a first hearing on HB 319.

HB 320 (West) – Firearm Transfers

Summary: To prohibit a federally licensed firearms dealer from transferring a firearm while a background check is pending unless 30 days have elapsed.
Status: Assigned to House State and Local Government Committee on 9/24/19.
Testimony: Not yet available
Bill Analysis: Not yet available
Fiscal Analysis: Not yet available
What activists can do: Ask Chairman Wiggam to schedule a first hearing on HB 320.

HB 335 (Lepore-Hagan, Boyd) – Domestic Violence

Summary: To require a person who is subject to a civil or criminal domestic violence temporary protection order to surrender the person’s firearms.
Status: Assigned to House Criminal Justice Committee on 9/24/19.
Testimony: Not yet available.
Bill Analysis: Not yet available.
Fiscal Analysis: Not yet available.
What activists can do: Ask Chairman Lang to schedule a first hearing on HB 335.

HB 348 (A. Miller) – Protection Orders

Summary: To prohibit a person subject to a protection order from purchasing or receiving a firearm for the duration of the order.
Status: Assigned to House Civil Justice Committee on 10/01/19
Testimony: Not yet available.
Bill Analysis: Not yet available.
Fiscal Analysis: Not yet available.
What activists can do: Ask Speaker Householder to schedule a first hearing on HB 348.

HB 349 (Weinstein) – Firearm Magazines

Summary: To generally prohibit a person from possessing a large capacity magazine and to establish a large capacity magazine registry.
Status: Assigned to House Criminal Justice Committee on 10/2/19.
Testimony: Not yet available.
Bill Analysis: Not yet available.
Fiscal Analysis: Not yet available.
What activists can do: Ask Chairman Lang to schedule a first hearing on HB 349.

HB 354 (Plummer, Swearingen) – Firearms

Summary: To require the juvenile court to expunge all records sealed pursuant to the juvenile sealing law upon the person’s twenty-eighth birthday, to expand the circumstances under which a person has a weapon under disability, to specify that moderate or severe substance use disorder is a mental illness for purposes of the law governing civil commitments, to require the Director of Public Safety to create and maintain the weapons disability data portal, to impose certain consequences on specified entities that fail to comply with data submission requirements, and to make an appropriation.
Status: Fifth hearing held in House Finance Committee on 10/16/19.
Proponent Testimony of Representatives Plummer and Swearingen; Proponent Testimony of Micaela Deming; Interested Party Testimony of Ahmad Mostafavifar; Interested Party Testimony of Paul Pfeifer; Opponent Testimony of Niki Clum; Interested Party Testimony of Terry Russell; Interested Party Testimony of Stephen Levorchick; Proponent Testimony of Nate Kehlmeier- Not yet available.
Bill Analysis
Fiscal Analysis
What activists can do: Ask Chairman Oelslager to schedule additional hearings on HB 354 and attend future hearings.

HB 646 (Howse) – Pilot Therapy

Summary: To require Director of Health to establish a pilot therapy program for Cleveland youth and young adults who are at high risk for gun violence
Status: Assigned to House Health Committee on 5/27/20.
Testimony: Not yet available.
Bill Analysis: Not yet available.
Fiscal Analysis: Not yet available.
What activists can do: Ask Chairman Lipps to schedule a first hearing on HB 646.

HB 647 (Strahorn) – High Capacity Magazines

Summary: Prohibits manufacture/sale of high capacity magazines
Status: Assigned to House Federalism Committee on 5/27/20.
Testimony: Not yet available.
Bill Analysis: Not yet available.
Fiscal Analysis: Not yet available.
What activists can do: Ask Chairman Becker to schedule a first hearing on HB 647.

SB 19 (Williams) – Extreme Risk Protection Order Act

Summary: To enact the Extreme Risk Protection Order Act to allow household members, family, and law enforcement officials to obtain a court order to temporarily restrict an individual’s access to firearms if that person poses a harmful risk to either themselves or others.
Status: One hearing held in Government Oversight and Reform Committee on 9/10/19.
Testimony: Sponsor Testimony of Senator Williams
Bill Analysis
Fiscal Analysis: Not yet available
What activists can do: Ask Chairman Coley to schedule additional hearings on SB 19.

SB 43 (Antonio, Kunze) – Domestic Violence Firearm Restrictions

Summary: To address domestic violence by the means of firearms restrictions, penalty enhancements, and enact a prohibition against strangulation.
Status: One hearing held in Government Oversight and Reform Committee on 4/2/19.
Testimony: Proponent Testimony of Senators Kunze and Antonio
Bill analysis
Fiscal Analysis: Not yet available
What activists can do: Ask Chairman Coley to schedule additional hearings on SB 43.

SB 62 (Thomas) – Semi-Automatic Rate of Fire Restrictions

Summary: To prohibit certain conduct regarding a multitude of items (i.e. parts, components, attachments, devices, and accessories) that increase the rate of fire (but that do not convert such weapons into automatic firearms) for semi-automatic weapons.
Status: One hearing held in Government Oversight and Reform Committee on 9/17/19.
Testimony: Sponsor Testimony of Senator Thomas
Bill Analysis
Fiscal Analysis: Not yet available
What activists can do: Ask Chairman Coley to schedule additional hearings on SB 62.

SB 63 (Thomas) – Firearms Transfers

Summary: To require private firearm transfers to be made through a dealer, a law enforcement agency, or pursuant to a special exemption, and to require a background check for such transfers.
Status: One hearing held in Government Oversight and Reform Committee on 9/17/19.
Testimony: Not yet available
Bill Analysis
Fiscal Analysis: Not yet available
What activists can do: Ask Chairman Coley to schedule additional hearings on SB 63.

SB 64 (Thomas) – Minimum Purchasing Age for Firearms

Summary: To raise the minimum purchasing age for firearms to 21 years of age, and to increase the penalties for improperly furnishing firearms to minors.
Status: One hearing held in Government Oversight and Reform Committee on 9/17/19.
Testimony: Not yet available
Bill Analysis
Fiscal Analysis: Not yet available
What activists can do: Ask Chairman Coley to schedule additional hearings on SB 64.

SB 65 (Thomas) – Gun Show Regulations

Summary: To regulate the transfer of firearms at gun shows.
Status: One hearing held in Government Oversight and Reform Committee on 9/17/19.
Testimony: Sponsor Testimony of Senator Thomas; Sponsor Testimony of Fox 8 News
Bill Analysis
Fiscal Analysis: Not yet available
What activists can do: Ask Chairman Coley to schedule additional hearings on SB 65.

SB 182 (Thomas, Lehner) – Minimum Purchase Age

Summary: To raise minimum age to purchase firearm to 21.
Status: second hearing held in Government Oversight and Reform Committee on 1/21/20.
Testimony: Sponsor Testimony of Senators Thomas and Lehner, Proponent Testimony of Tara Talgar
Bill Analysis,
Fiscal Analysis
What activists can do: Ask Chairman Coley to schedule additional hearings on SB 182.

SB 183 (Thomas, Lehner) – Universal Background Checks

Summary: To require a firearm transfer to be made through a dealer, through a law enforcement agency, or pursuant to a specified exception, and to require a background check when a firearm is transferred.
Status: One hearing held in Government Oversight and Reform Committee on 9/17/19.
Testimony: Sponsor Testimony of Senators Thomas and Lehner
Bill Analysis
Fiscal Analysis: Not yet available
What activists can do: Ask Chairman Coley to schedule additional hearings on SB 183.

SB 184 (Williams, Lehner) – Extreme Risk Protection Order (Red Flag)

Summary: To allow family members, household members, and law enforcement officers to obtain a court order that temporarily restricts a person’s access to firearms if that person poses a danger to themselves or others.
Status: One hearing held in Government Oversight and Reform Committee on 9/17/19.
Testimony: Sponsor Testimony of Senator Williams
Bill Analysis
Fiscal Analysis: Not yet available
What activists can do: Ask Chairman Coley to schedule additional hearings on SB 184.

SB 202 (Thomas, Craig) – Local Authority

Summary: To restore local authority to regulate firearms-relate conduct.
Status: One hearing held in General Government and Agency Review Committee on 10/23/19.
Testimony: Sponsor Testimony of Senators Craig and Thomas
Bill Analysis
Fiscal Analysis: Not yet available.
What activists can do: Ask Chairman Schuring to schedule additional hearings on SB 202.

SB 203 (Thomas, Lehner) – Firearm Transfers

Summary: To regulate the transfer of firearms at a gun show.
Status: One hearing held in Government Oversight and Reform Committee on 11/5/19.
Testimony: Sponsor Testimony of Senators Thomas and Lehner
Bill Analysis
Fiscal Analysis: Not yet available
What activists can do: Ask Chairman Coley to schedule additional hearings on SB 203.

SB 221 (Dolan) – Firearms Laws

Summary: Regards firearm protection orders/seller protection certificates.
Status: Third hearing in Government Oversight and Reform Committee on 13/03/19.
Testimony: Proponent Testimony of Rebecca Gaytko, Proponent Testimony of Walt Davis, Proponent Testimony of Pastor Norman Scearce, Proponent Testimony of Pastor Uhleric Reynolds, Proponent Testimony of Prosecutor Jane Hanlin, Proponent Testimony of Chief Bruce Pijanawski, Proponent Testimony of Sheriff Michael Simpson, Proponent Testimony Mayor Christina Muryn, Proponent Testimony of Bill Cotton, MD, FAAP , Proponent Testimony of Chris Kershner, Proponent Testimony of Ohio Mayors Alliance, Proponent Testimony of Jim Tobin, Proponent Testimony of Chief Robin Lees, Proponent Testimony of Chief Adam Pillar, Proponent Testimony of Whitney Austin, Proponent Testimony of Pastor John T. Coats, Proponent Testimony of Howie Beigelman, Sponsor Testimony of Senator Dolan
Bill Analysis
Fiscal Analysis
What activists can do: Ask Chairman Coley to schedule additional hearings on SB 221.

SB 223 (Thomas, Lehner) – Firearms

Summary: To generally prohibit a person from possessing trigger cranks, bump-fire devices, or other items that accelerate a semi-automatic firearm’s rate of fire but do not convert it into an automatic firearm and large capacity magazines.
Status: First hearing in Government Oversight and Reform Committee on 11/05/19.
Testimony: Sponsor Testimony of Senator Thomas and Lehner
Bill Analysis
Fiscal Analysis: Not yet available.
What activists can do: Ask Chairman Coley to schedule additional hearings on SB 223.

For a real-time status report on all gun legislation (including pro-gun legislation) pending in the Ohio legislature, check our custom tracker, courtesy of Gongwer News Service.

To be updated about weekly and breaking news about important legislation, sign up for our legislative email alerts.