Kasich signs bill expanding concealed carry

Editor’s note: This story has been changed to correct the first name of Senator Joe Uecker.

COLUMBUS — Gov. John Kasich today signed bills expanding where Ohioans may carry hidden handguns along with those prohibiting local governments from raising the minimum wage or enacting  more restrictive rules than the state for pet stores.

Senate Bill 199 would lift the state’s current ban on carrying concealed firearms in day-care centers, airport terminals, school safety zones, and certain government buildings and would give public colleges and universities the authority to allow weapons on campus.

Among other easements on state concealed carry laws, Senate Bill 199, signed today by Ohio Gov. John Kasich, gives public colleges and universities the authority to allow weapons on campus.

Private businesses, including day-care centers, could continue to post themselves off limits, and guns would still be forbidden in courthouses, police stations, and the Statehouse.

The law, which will take effect in 90 days, would also allow those with concealed carry permits to legally store their weapons in their cars while parked in private business lots.

The language was added to a bill, sponsored by Sens. Randy Gardner (R., Bowling Green) and Joe Uecker (R., Loveland), that would waive concealed-carry training requirements for those who received firearm training in the military.

In other business, the governor signed Senate Bill 331 which prohibits cities from taking it upon themselves to raise the minimum wage higher than what’s provided for under state law.

It also prohibits local governments from imposing polices concerning hours and location of work, scheduling, and benefits on private employers.

The bill also places new state rules for pet retailers that would override ordinances already in place in Toledo and the Columbus suburb of Grove City that generally require retailers to acquire their puppies from animal shelters, rescues, and humane societies.

State rules would expand that list to include “qualified breeders,” smaller and larger operations that meet certain conditions.

The idea behind the local ordinances was to cut off demand for higher-volume breeding operations with poor reputations known as “puppy mills.”

The bill was sought by the Chillicothe-based, global retailer Petland,which has a store in Grove City, and was supported by The Happy Puppy in Toledo’s Franklin Park Mall.

In all, the governor signed 17 bills, including House Bill 154, sponsored by Reps. Mike Sheehy (D., Oregon) and Michael Henne (R., Clayton). It requires motorists to give bicyclists a berth of at least 3 feet.

Contact Jim Provance at: jprovance@theblade.com or 614-221-0496.