SB 238: Limit liability for firearms dealers re: firearm hold agreements
The bill proposes to limit liability for federally licensed firearms dealers in regards to firearm hold agreements. A firearm hold agreement is a private agreement between a federally licensed firearms dealer and an individual firearm owner where the dealer temporarily holds a firearm at the owner's request. The bill protects these dealers from liability for personal injury or death resulting from a firearm hold agreement, unless the injury or death was caused by the dealer's otherwise unlawful conduct. Additionally, the bill does not apply to agreements where the firearm owner becomes prohibited from possessing firearms under state or federal law during the agreement period. The bill does not require dealers to enter into firearm hold agreements, but rather provides a voluntary option for both parties.
| Oct. 01, 2025 | Referred to committee: Armed Services, Veterans Affairs and Public Safety |
| Jul. 30, 2025 | Introduced |
As Introduced
136th General Assembly
Regular Session
S. B. No. 238
2025-2026
Senator Craig
Cosponsor: Senator DeMora
A BILL
To enact section 2923.22 of the Revised Code to limit liability for federally licensed firearms dealers in regards to firearm hold agreements
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:
Section 1. That section 2923.22 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as follows:
Sec. 2923.22.
(A) As used in this section:
- "Federally licensed firearms dealer" has the same meaning as in section 5502.63 of the Revised Code.
- "Firearm hold agreement" means a private agreement between a federally licensed firearms dealer and an individual firearm owner in which the dealer takes physical possession of the owner's lawfully possessed firearm at the owner's request, holds the firearm for an agreed period of time, and returns the firearm to the owner according to the terms of the agreement.
- "Indoor shooting range" means an indoor facility operated for the purpose of shooting with firearms that conforms to the generally accepted standards for shooting ranges adopted by the chief of the division of wildlife under section 1533.84 of the Revised Code.
(B)
- No person has a cause of action against a federally licensed firearms dealer or the operator of an indoor shooting range for any act or omission arising from a firearm hold agreement and resulting in personal injury or death of any person, including the return of any firearms to the individual firearm owner at the termination of the agreement.
- This section does not apply to any action arising from a firearm hold agreement if such action was the result of otherwise unlawful conduct on the part of the federally licensed firearms dealer or the operator of an indoor shooting range.
- This section does not apply to agreements in which the owner of the firearm becomes prohibited from possessing firearms under state or federal law during the agreement period, and the federally licensed firearms dealer or the operator of an indoor shooting range knows or reasonably should know about the weapons disability.
(C)
Nothing in this section requires a federally licensed firearms dealer or operator of an indoor shooting range to enter into a firearm hold agreement.