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SB 321 Ohio Senate · 136th Legislature (2025-2026)

Regards carrying of firearms by certain special police officers

SB 321 creates new rules in Ohio law allowing certain special police officers to carry firearms while on duty. It directly affects special police officers employed by entities like universities, hospitals, or private security firms. The bill establishes specific requirements for these officers to carry firearms, including training and certification standards. These provisions are codified in new sections of the Revised Code (5119.081 and 5123.131), replacing previous, less specific guidelines. The law aims to clarify and standardize firearm carrying authority for this specific group of law enforcement personnel.
Issues: ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeSB 321 strengthens a component of law enforcement by establishing training and certification standards for special police officers to carry firearms while on duty.80% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationSB 321 allows special police officers at entities like universities to carry firearms, enhancing campus safety, which indirectly supports the educational environment.75% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill allows special police officers in hospitals to carry firearms, enhancing security within healthcare facilities, which can be seen as protecting the environment for health services.75% confidence
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Nov 2025
Committee Review
May 2026
Senate Passage
Apr 2026
House Passage
Governor
Introduced Nov 10, 2025 Last action May 13, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

As Introduced → As Passed by the Senate · 3 edits · Apr 15, 2026
MINOR
The bill was amended to reorganize the text for clarity and to correct a critical error where the first section referenced the wrong department. The original version incorrectly applied behavioral health rules to developmental disabilities facilities, while the Senate version now correctly assigns specific rules to the Department of Behavioral Health and the Department of Developmental Disabilities.
Scope change
The bill's scope was clarified to apply specific regulations to two distinct departments: the Department of Behavioral Health and the Department of Developmental Disabilities, ensuring each facility type is governed by the correct authority.
ELIGIBILITY

Fixed a major error where the original bill applied behavioral health rules to developmental disabilities institutions. The amendment ensures the correct department governs each facility type.

DEFINITION

Added a specific definition for 'firearm' to ensure consistency with state law, replacing the previous generic reference to 'deadly weapon'.

TECHNICAL

Reorganized the bill structure and added a list of cosponsors to reflect the Senate's final approval process.

Floor votes · Senate Apr 15, 2026

How they voted

33–0
Passed
Total votes 33
Apr 15, 2026
D Democratic9
9 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican24
24 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
6
Key actions
1
Committee
2
May 13, 2026
Committee
Referred to committee
lower
Apr 21, 2026
Introduced
Introduced
lower
Apr 15, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed
upper
Nov 18, 2025
Committee
Referred to committee
upper
Nov 10, 2025
Introduced
Introduced
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Tim Schaffer
Tim Schaffer
RRepublican
OH
20