In Ohio, a person who is issued a concealed handgun license may carry a handgun in certain circumstances and in certain places. Before March 21, 2017, handguns were generally prohibited in school safety zones, with narrow exceptions. Effective March 21, those narrow exceptions are expanded in favor of broader concealed carry rights for licensed gun owners.

Under Ohio Revised Code 2923.122, it is illegal to convey, attempt to convey, or possess a deadly weapon or a "fake gun" that is indistinguishable from a firearm in a school safety zone, even with a concealed carry license. A “school safety zone” includes school buildings and grounds as well as school buses and school activities. There exist few exceptions to this general prohibition, including for example exceptions for police officers and certain authorized school personnel. The new law (Senate Bill 199) expands these exceptions to the rule.

First, the law states that the prohibition against guns in a school safety zone does not apply to a person if all of the following apply:

The person is carrying a valid concealed handgun license or is a qualifying member of the military.
The person leaves the handgun in the motor vehicle.
The handgun does not leave the motor vehicle.
If the person exits the motor vehicle, the person locks the motor vehicle.

Second, the law also provides that the prohibition against possession of "fake guns" in a school safety zone does not apply when the object is used in school safety training. Existing law still exempts from the prohibition any school administrator, teacher, or employee who possesses an object that is indistinguishable from a firearm for legitimate school purposes; a student acting under the direction of a school administrator, teacher, or employee; or any other person who with the express prior approval of a school administrator possesses an object that is indistinguishable from a firearm for a legitimate purpose,

And third, under the new law, the prohibition against deadly weapons in school safety zones does not apply to a law enforcement officer who is authorized to carry deadly weapons, regardless of whether the officer is acting within the scope of the officer's duties. Previously, only on-duty officers could carry a deadly weapon in a school safety zone.