Why It Matters: Without these important protections, hunters and recreational shooters in Ohio could have been subject to discrimination by financial or anti-sportsmen organizations or could face unnecessary costs on top of those already shouldered by hunters through the American System of Conservation Funding, which would likely deter participation and decrease critical conservation funding.
Highlights:
- OH SB 58 prohibits financial institutions from tracking firearm and ammunition purchases and any requirement for Ohioan gun owners to hold firearm liability insurance.
- The bill was passed by both the Ohio Senate and House during the final weeks of 2024.
- The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) has supported this legislative concept through the Ohio Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus since language was introduced in 2023.
Before the 2024 legislative calendar ended, lawmakers in Ohio made sure to protect the privacy of hunters and recreational shooters in the Buckeye State by sending Senate Bill 58 to Governor Mike DeWine. Governor DeWine, a member of the Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus, is expected to sign the legislation into law. Language that was originally in Senate Bill 148, the Ohio Second Amendment Privacy Act which CSF has supported since it was introduced in 2023, was amended into SB 58 before being passed out of the Ohio Legislature.
The bill will prohibit financial institutions from tracking firearm and ammunition purchases, as well as prohibit any requirement for Ohioan gun owners to hold firearm liability insurance. Protecting the personal information of sportsmen and women and ensuring there are no unnecessary barriers is paramount to the continued success of the time-honored outdoor traditions that have long been enjoyed by Ohioans. By prohibiting financial institutions from distinguishing firearm retailers from other general or sporting-goods retailers, as well as prohibiting the existence of a list or registry of privately owned firearms in the state, this legislation ensures that hunters may continue to lawfully purchase the sporting equipment needed to partake in the outdoor traditions that have stood as societal pillars in Ohio for generations, while simultaneously providing the funds necessary for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources to carry out its mission. Further, by prohibiting the requirement of fees or firearm liability insurance, Ohioans may continue to lawfully pursue wildlife species and engage in recreational shooting without undue financial burdens.
Off the coattails of this final victory for the Great Lakes region in 2024, CSF is looking forward to continuing to support legislation that benefits hunters, anglers, recreational shooters, and trappers across the country through working with partners, state fish and wildlife agencies, and its robust network of sportsmen-legislators.
