Ohio governor considering bring your gun to work bill

On Dec. 8, 2016, Ohio lawmakers passed a controversial gun bill that will impact public and private employers across the state. Under Senate Bill 199, employees with concealed carry licenses will now be permitted to bring their firearm to work, so long as the firearm remains in their vehicle. The bill also impacts business entities and property owners, who are likewise prohibited from establishing a policy or rule that bans concealed carry licensees from transporting or storing firearms in their privately-owned vehicles. 

Though the bill does not impact an employer’s ability to ban individuals from having a firearm inside the employer’s buildings or employer-owned or leased vehicles, employers should be prepared to revisit their weapons in the workplace policies in the upcoming months.

Lawmakers also merged into the bill another gun-related measure (House Bill 48), which expands the places concealed carry is permitted to include previously gun-free zones such as universities, daycares, and more. We will provide further updates on these provisions next week.

Unless vetoed by the governor, the estimated effective date of the new law is late March 2017.