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Read. Follow. Verify.Ohio authorizes special police officers at mental health and developmental disabilities institutions to carry firearms
Last action · May 13, 2026: Referred to Public SafetySponsors: Tim Schaffer and 23 others
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What This Bill Would Do
Ohio restricts state directors of behavioral health and developmental disabilities from prohibiting designated s from carrying firearms while escorting patients, operating metal detectors, or patrolling grounds, provided they meet specific training and departmental approval requirements.
The measure establishes uniform firearm permissions and mandatory training requirements for security personnel across state mental health and developmental facilities while explicitly maintaining the state's immunity from lawsuits related to firearm use.
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Special police officers
Special police officers gain statutory permission to carry firearms during specific duties provided they meet departmental training, certification, and equipment requirements.
Department of Behavioral Health
The department must establish firearm policies, training requirements, and issue approved firearms and ammunition to its special police officers.
Department of Developmental Disabilities
The department must adopt training rules, issue approved weapons, and oversee firearm possession for special police officers within its facilities.
Key Facts
- Special police officers under the Department of Behavioral Health and the Department of Developmental Disabilities are permitted to carry firearms while escorting patients, operating metal detectors, or patrolling institution grounds.
- Officers must obtain all necessary firearm certifications, complete required training, and follow all firearm policies adopted by their respective departments.
- Firearms and ammunition must be issued or explicitly approved by the employing department.
- Officers under investigation for work rule violations or facing pending criminal charges are strictly prohibited from carrying firearms until resolved or authorized by the department director.
Show all 5 facts
- The state maintains full sovereign immunity from liability and does not consent to lawsuits for damage, injury, or death related to the possession or use of a firearm by these officers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can any special police officer at a state mental health facility carry a gun at any time?
What happens if a special police officer is facing a conduct investigation or criminal charges?
Can an officer use their own personal firearm and ammunition on duty?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently passed chamber. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Law.
Procedural history
6 actions- May 13, 2026HouseCommitteeReferred to Public Safety
- Apr 21, 2026HouseIntroducedIntroduced
- Apr 15, 2026SenateFloorPassed
- Mar 26, 2026SenateCommitteeReported - Substitute (Armed Services, Veterans Affairs and Public Safety)
- Nov 18, 2025SenateCommitteeReferred to Armed Services, Veterans Affairs and Public Safety
- Nov 10, 2025SenateIntroducedIntroduced
Version history & redline
3 versions on fileVoting Record
Passed
Total
33
- Yes
- 24
- No
- 9
- Present
- 0
- Not voting
- 0
- Abstain
- 0
How they voted (32)
8 more members
Show 1 earlier roll call
Favorable Passage
Total
5
- Yes
- 5
- No
- 0
- Present
- 0
- Not voting
- 0
- Abstain
- 0
Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Show 19 more sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Restricting Agency Director Discretion
The bill shifts power by removing absolute directorial discretion to ban firearms outright, replacing it with mandatory permission subject to strict training and compliance standards.
Connected Entities
Sources
www.legislature.ohio.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance60How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy45Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz25Current news / social attention level
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