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A new Kansas law will allow college students to sue their schools for free-speech violations. In Tennessee, a new law will encourage teachers and professors to include \u201cthe positive impacts of religion\u201d in American history courses.<\/p>\n
The common factor: Both are being done in the name of Charlie Kirk<\/a>.<\/p>\n The laws are among the first of what could become multiple state tributes to the conservative activist who was killed while speaking at a Utah university last year. More than 60 Kirk-themed bills have been proposed in over 20 states seeking to promote his ideology, establish official days of remembrance or affix his name to roads and public places, according to an Associated Press analysis using the bill-tracking software Plural<\/a>.<\/p>\n Just like Kirk, who was known for his provocative campus debates, the measures are not without controversy<\/a>.<\/p>\n Republican lawmakers in Kansas overrode the veto of Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly to enact a law that she said would \u201ccause confusion for courts and schools.\u201d<\/p>\n In Tennessee, where Republicans firmly control state government, some Democrats denounced the pro-Kirk legislation by recounting what they described as racist remarks<\/a> he made about Black pilots and Black women in government positions. <\/p>\n \u201cHow many times have we sat here and endured this? The Charlie Kirk Saves America Act, whatever the heck it is? Come on guys. Ladies and gentlemen, let\u2019s move on,\u201d Democratic state Rep. Sam McKenzie said during a committee meeting where Republicans endorsed the \u201cCharlie Kirk American Heritage Act.\u201d<\/p>\n That’s not to be confused with Tennessee’s \u201cCharlie Kirk Act,\u201d which Republicans also recently passed. That bill addresses campus free speech, including a ban on attendee walkouts that intentionally disrupt a speaker.<\/p>\n The variety of bills in Kirk’s name \u201cshows just how deeply his influence is being felt, especially in the fight to restore intellectual diversity and core American values in education,\u201d said Matt Shupe, a spokesperson for Turning Point USA<\/a>, which Kirk founded.<\/p>\n A Kirk-named law signed this week by Republican Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee extols the historical \u201cinfluence of Judeo-Christian values on the freedom and liberties ingrained in our culture.\u201d <\/p>\n It gives permission for public schools and higher education institutions to teach about religion’s positive role in American history. And it lists 19 examples, beginning with the organization of the Pilgrims as a church and including George Washington’s direction for Army chaplains, Benjamin Franklin’s appeal for prayer at the constitutional convention and the impact of Christian evangelist Billy Graham. <\/p>\n Tennessee is one of several Republican-led states to partner with Turning Point USA to promote its high school chapters, called Club America<\/a>. Dozens of club leaders from Tennessee attended a state Senate committee hearing last month to support the religion-in-history legislation.<\/p>\n Ben Mason, a junior from Providence Academy in Johnson City, said Kirk helped him \u201cto understand that America began with Judeo-Christian values.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThis, of course, does not mean that you must be a Christian or even believe in God to be in America, but you will hear about our roots,” Mason told lawmakers.<\/p>\n But Senate Democratic Leader Raumesh Akbari raised concerns. <\/p>\n \u201cOur public schools are really not the place to push one religion over another,” she said. “I know that is not the stated intent of the bill, but I think that ends up being the result.\u201d<\/p>\n Lawmakers turned Kirk’s name into an acronym for the \u201cKansas intellectual rights and knowledge\u201d act, which deems outdoor areas on college campuses as forums for free expression. The bill’s preamble praises Kirk and cites a 2024 incident at Kansas State University in which Kirk’s microphone was shut off at the end of his allotted time, leading Kirk to wade into the crowd to continue taking questions.<\/p>\n The measure limits security fees charged to student organizations for events and bans designated \u201cfree speech zones\u201d that restrict the location of such activities. The attorney general \u2014 or any who believe their rights were infringed \u2014 can sue an institution seeking damages of at least $500 per violation, and $50 for each day it continues. <\/p>\n The bill is similar to the Campus Free Expression Act, promoted by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression. About half the states already have campus free-speech laws, according to the foundation.<\/p>\n \u201cCharlie Kirk was assassinated for exercising his right to free speech and introducing young people to conservative values,\u201d Kansas Senate President Ty Masterson said after Kelly\u2019s veto was recently overridden. \u201cHis mission and legacy will live on and protect the free speech rights of all college students in Kansas for decades to come.\u201d<\/p>\n Democrats, while decrying Kirk’s assassination<\/a>, were unified in opposing the bill. Democratic state Rep. Jerry Stogsdill said legislators should not honor an activist whose statements promoted \u201chate, bigotry, misogyny and racism.\u201d<\/p>\n