News Summary
Florida lawmaker Kevin Steele has introduced a bill mandating public universities to rename campus roads after the late activist Charlie Kirk. The bill requires changing at least one street name to ‘Charlie James Kirk Drive’ within 90 days of its passage, with financial penalties for non-compliance. The proposal has sparked discussions at various universities, including Florida State University, where Chieftan Way is a potential candidate for renaming. Charlie Kirk was known for his critiques of liberalism and his influence in conservative politics. A candlelight vigil is set to honor him soon.
Florida Lawmaker Proposes Bill to Rename Campus Streets After Slain Activist Charlie Kirk
This week has brought forth a bold and interesting proposal from Florida lawmaker Kevin Steele, who represents Dade City. He has introduced a legislative bill aiming to rename some streets at Florida universities after the late conservative activist, Charlie Kirk. This proposal has certainly sparked conversations among students, faculty, and residents alike.
The bill, officially known as HB 113, sets out a clear mandate: every public university and college in Florida must rename at least one of their campus roads to “Charlie James Kirk Drive” within 90 days following the bill’s effective date. Now, that’s quite a tight timeline!
Should any institution not comply with this requirement, it appears that there could be serious financial consequences, as state funding would be withheld. With such a hefty ultimatum, you can imagine the urgency each university might feel to make these changes.
One of the streets nominated for renaming is Chieftan Way, a prominent road at Florida State University (FSU). This bustling route runs from Tennessee Street to Doak Campbell Stadium and is flanked by notable landmarks, including the Paul Dirac Library and the Leach Student Center. It’s a path that many students traverse daily, making it a suitable candidate for such an honored renaming.
For this fascinating bill to go into effect, it must successfully navigate through a series of legislative steps scheduled for the upcoming session in January, all under the watchful eye of Governor Ron DeSantis, who will need to put his signature on it.
To offer a bit of background on Charlie Kirk, he was known for his vocal critiques of liberalism in the education sector, even though he never graduated from college himself. He gained national recognition in 2024 for his political rally engagements, particularly after Donald Trump credited him and his organization, Turning Point USA, for playing a role in his electoral success.
In a gesture of respect and camaraderie, Steele expressed that he found Kirk to be an “inspirational” figure who championed the idea of allowing a multitude of opinions to be expressed in a respectful manner. His legacy has begun to influence not just the streets but also the hearts and minds of many around him.
Interestingly, West Osceola Street has already undergone a name change recently to Rudy Hubbard Way after similar legislation was passed earlier this year. This showcases a growing trend in Tallahassee towards honoring significant figures through street names, and it’s clear that Charlie Kirk is also at the forefront of this movement.
Beyond Tallahassee, other regions in Florida and elsewhere are considering memorializing Kirk as well. Notably, Lake County has already designated a section of roadway as “Charlie Kirk Memorial Highway,” and signage for this has reportedly been installed.
Adding to the wave of memorials, New College of Florida has announced plans to commission a statue of Charlie Kirk on their campus as a form of tribute. A candlelight vigil honoring Kirk is set to take place at the Capitol in Tallahassee on October 14, which coincides with the recognized National Day of Remembrance for Charlie Kirk. This commemorative event is expected to draw attention and honor the impact he had on conservative discourse in America.
Overall, if this bill passes, a total of 12 public state universities and 28 public and community colleges in Florida will be impacted as they adapt to this new naming convention. As it stands, it’s a topic that is sure to stir up plenty of discussions within the educational community and beyond.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
- Tallahassee.com: Florida Bill Renames FSU Chieftan Way
- Google Search: Charlie Kirk
- Orlando Sentinel: Florida Lawmaker Wants University Renaming
- Wikipedia: Charlie Kirk
- Google News: Florida Street Renaming
Author: STAFF HERE LOS ANGELES WRITER
LOS ANGELES STAFF WRITER The LOS ANGELES STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERELosAngeles.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, and beyond, specializing in "news you can use" with coverage of product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates, while delivering top reporting on high-value events like the Academy Awards, LA Auto Show, and Los Angeles Marathon, extending coverage to key organizations such as the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce and the Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board, plus leading businesses in entertainment and technology like Warner Bros. and SpaceX, and as part of the broader HERE network including HEREAnaheim.com , HERECostaMesa.com , HEREHuntingtonBeach.com , and HERESantaAna.com , providing comprehensive, credible insights into Southern California's dynamic landscape. HERE Anaheim HERE Beverly Hills HERE Coronado HERE Costa Mesa HERE Hollywood HERE Huntington Beach HERE Long Beach HERE Los Angeles HERE Mission Viejo HERE San Diego HERE Santa Ana
