Ohio legislation · 136th General Assembly
Ohio SB278: Permit monetary damages against municipal corps with gun controls
Status: In committee, May 13, 2026
To amend section 9.68 of the Revised Code to permit individuals to seek punitive or exemplary damages against municipal corporations that pass gun control measures.
What the bill says
To amend section 9.68 of the Revised Code to permit individuals to seek punitive or exemplary damages against municipal corporations that pass gun control measures.
From the amended text, April 15, 2026:
To amend section 9.68 of the Revised Code to permit individuals to seek punitive or exemplary damages against municipal corporations that pass gun control measures. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO: Section 1. That section 9.68 of the Revised Code be amended to read as follows: Sec. 9.68. (A) The individual right to keep and bear arms, being a fundamental individual right that predates the United States Constitution and Ohio Constitution, and being a constitutionally protected right in every part of Ohio, the general assembly finds the need to provide uniform laws throughout the state regulating the ownership, possession, purchase, other acquisition, transport, storage, carrying, sale, other transfer, manufacture, taxation, keeping, and reporting of loss or theft of firearms, their components, and their ammunition, and knives. The general assembly also finds and declares that it is proper for law-abiding people to protect themselves, their families, and others from intruders and attackers without fear of prosecution or civil action for acting in defense of themselves or others. Except as specifically provided by the United States Constitution, Ohio Constitution, state law, or federal law, a person, without further license, permission, restriction, delay, or process, including by any ordinance, rule, regulation, resolution, practice, or other action or any threat of citation, prosecution, or other legal process, may …
Sponsors
- Terry Johnson (R, SD-014) · primary sponsor
- Andrew Brenner (R, 19)
- Brian Chavez (R, 30)
- Alessandro Cutrona (R, 33)
- Theresa Gavarone (R, 2)
- Stephen Huffman (R, 5)
- Kyle Koehler (R, 10)
- Al Landis (R, 31)
- George Lang (R, 4)
- Susan Manchester (R, 12)
- O'Brien, Sandra (R)
- Thomas Patton (R, 24)
Latest actions
- : Referred to committee
- : Introduced
- : Passed
- : Reported
- : Referred to committee
- : Introduced
Votes
- Passed (April 15, 2026): 24 yea, 9 nay, passed
- Favorable Passage (March 11, 2026): 5 yea, 2 nay, failed
Subjects: State and Local Government, Local Government, Crimes, Corrections, and Law Enforcement, Firearms
Common questions
- What is SB278?
- SB278 is a bill in the Ohio Legislature (136th General Assembly): Permit monetary damages against municipal corps with gun controls.
- What does SB278 do?
- In its own words: To amend section 9.68 of the Revised Code to permit individuals to seek punitive or exemplary damages against municipal corporations that pass gun control measures.
- What is the status of SB278?
- In committee as of May 13, 2026. Latest action: Referred to committee (May 13, 2026).
- Who sponsored SB278?
- Terry Johnson (R, SD-014), with 11 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for SB278?
- On the Ohio Legislature website: https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/136/sb278
Source: official Ohio record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.