OhioSB 273136th General Assembly (2025-2026)Senate

Enact the Keep Them Safe Act

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

5 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 3 mixed.

Highway Patrol protects eligible governor candidates

At the governor's direction, the Highway Patrol must protect eligible major-party governor or lieutenant governor candidates and their immediate families. Eligibility starts when unofficial primary results show the candidate won the most votes among that party's candidates. Candidates certified to fill a general-election ballot vacancy also qualify; security requires money specifically set aside for security details. The superintendent can create a permanent or temporary executive protection unit and assign troopers to security details. While providing security in that unit, members have other peace officers' arrest powers, regardless of where an offense occurs.

Ohio funds candidate security and police reimbursements

Ohio provides $250,000 in fiscal year 2026 and $9.75 million in fiscal year 2027 for security and investigations. It also transfers $10 million from general revenue to the new security fund to finance the spending. At the governor's direction, security funding protects major-party governor and lieutenant governor candidates and immediate families before the 2026 general election. Any fiscal year 2026 balance not spent or committed carries into fiscal year 2027 for the same purpose. Of the fiscal year 2027 appropriation, $2 million repays agencies for Patrol-requested candidate security assistance; agencies must follow the director's reimbursement process.

Firearm owners get remedies but liability limits

After a return demand, courts must award reasonable costs and attorney fees when a stored firearm was withheld without legal cause. Dealers are generally protected from civil claims for injury, death, or loss tied to accepting, storing, or returning firearms. That protection does not cover malicious actions or an intent to withhold a firearm without legal cause. Law enforcement agencies and local governments receive the liability protections and limits in Ohio's government immunity law.

Optional firearm storage with fees and safeguards

Lawful firearm owners, or someone they authorize, can apply and agree to storage with a licensed dealer or law enforcement agency. Providers can refuse storage, charge fees, and set written storage or return policies. Dealers must follow federal firearms laws; storage past license expiration requires a timely renewal application and federal permission to keep operating. Providers cannot return a firearm when doing so directly violates state or federal law. Application and agreement information is confidential, is not a public record, and cannot be used for unrelated purposes.

Patrol fines fund security before general spending

Ohio creates a Security, Investigations, and Policing Fund, which also keeps its investment earnings. Certain fines and forfeited bail or bonds from Patrol arrests go there before the General Revenue Fund. This priority lasts until revenue covers appropriations for authorized activities; the law sets no fixed dollar threshold. The fund supports executive security, major state-property investigations, year-round Expositions Commission traffic and security, and non-highway State Fair duties. Fines under Ohio Revised Code 4513.263(B), and comparable municipal fines, keep their existing treatment.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

Kyle Koehler
Republican • Senate

Cosponsors

Andrew O. Brenner
Republican • Senate
Bernard Willis
Republican • House
Bill Reineke
Republican • Senate
Casey Weinstein
Democratic • Senate
Cindy Abrams
Republican • House
George F. Lang
Republican • Senate
Hearcel F. Craig
Democratic • Senate
Jane M. Timken
Republican • Senate
Jerry C. Cirino
Republican • Senate
Kristina D. Roegner
Republican • Senate
Louis W. Blessing, III
Republican • Senate
Mark Romanchuk
Republican • Senate
Michele Reynolds
Republican • Senate
Nathan H. Manning
Republican • Senate
Nickie J. Antonio
Democratic • Senate
Paula Hicks-Hudson
Democratic • Senate
Stephen A. Huffman
Republican • Senate
Terry Johnson
Republican • Senate
Theresa Gavarone
Republican • Senate
Thomas F. Patton
Republican • Senate
Tim Schaffer
Republican • Senate
William P. DeMora
Democratic • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 220 • No: 0

Senate vote • 6/11/2026

Concurred in House amendments

Yes: 32 • No: 0

House vote • 6/9/2026

Passed

Yes: 95 • No: 0

House vote • 6/9/2026

Finance: Reported

Yes: 31 • No: 0

House vote • 6/3/2026

Public Safety: Reported

Yes: 13 • No: 0

House vote • 6/3/2026

Rules and Reference: Reported

Yes: 11 • No: 0

Senate vote • 11/20/2025

Passed

Yes: 33 • No: 0

Senate vote • 11/19/2025

Armed Services, Veterans Affairs and Public Safety: Reported

Yes: 5 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

Signed by Governor
6/18/2026Governor
Sent to Governor
6/12/2026Governor
Concurred in House amendments
6/11/2026Senate
Passed
6/9/2026House
Reported
6/9/2026House
Reported
6/3/2026House
Reported
6/3/2026House
Refer to Committee
2/4/2026House
Introduced
11/25/2025House
Passed
11/20/2025Senate
Reported
11/19/2025Senate
Refer to Committee
10/1/2025Senate
Introduced
9/24/2025Senate

Bill Text

As Enrolled
6/18/2026
HTML PDF
As Introduced
HTML PDF
As Passed by the House
HTML PDF
As Passed by the Senate
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As Re-Referred by the House Rules and Reference Committee
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As Reported by the House Finance Committee
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As Reported by the House Public Safety Committee
HTML PDF
As Reported by the Senate Armed Services, Veterans Affairs and Public Safety Committee
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