House Committee Begins Hearings on Legislation to Strengthen Ohio's Concealed Carry Framework

COLUMBUS—State Representative Justin Pizzulli (R-Scioto County) today provided sponsor testimony on House Bill 68, legislation to give local governments the permissive authority to expand concealed carry access, before the House Public Safety Committee. Pizzulli is sponsoring the bill alongside State Rep. Adam Mathews (R-Lebanon).

The legislation will grant local governments the permissive authority to allow citizens to carry a concealed weapon within certain general, multi-purpose community centers. Under current law, Ohioans are prohibited from carrying a concealed weapon within a courtroom or any building containing a courtroom, regardless of whether a court is in session or the building is being used as a courthouse.

“The permissive nature of this bill, as well as safeguards put in place to ensure that it only applies to shared-use buildings where the decision-makers actually hold their meetings, make this a common-sense clarification for current law,” said Pizzulli during sponsor testimony. “This legislation empowers local control and strengthens our concealed carry framework.”

Under the bill, local governments may permit the carrying of a concealed weapon within such buildings if all the following conditions are met:

• The building is not a designated courthouse, but a building in which a courtroom is simply located.
• The building in which the courtroom is located is a government building under the jurisdiction of the relevant local government.
• Court is not in session and the building is not being used for court purposes when weapons are allowed inside.
• The relevant local government has voluntarily enacted an ordinance allowing citizens to carry a weapon when the building is being used for non-court related purposes.

This bill is a reintroduction of House Bill 272 from the previous General Assembly.

House Bill 68 awaits further consideration from the House Public Safety Committee.