Tennessee Lawmakers Pass ‘Charlie Kirk Act,’ Barring Colleges From Uninviting Controversial Speakers

A Tennessee bill named after the late conservative activist Charlie Kirk aims to protect freedom of expression on college campuses — but could lead to the expulsion of students who stage walkouts to protest guest speakers.House Bill 1476, known as the Charlie Kirk Act, was passed by the Tennessee House on Wednesday. It bans colleges from uninviting speakers or prohibiting speakers due to concerns about protests or because of the guest’s political viewpoints. The legislation would also prevent colleges from retaliating against students due to their religious beliefs or political views on topics such as abortion or “transgender behavior.”It also prohibits students from “using signs … to block or impede an audience member’s view of an invited speaker” or “staging walkouts during an event or in the middle of an invited speaker’s remarks.”Students who engage in such protests could face suspension or expulsion.Additionally, public colleges and universities would be required to sign the University of Chicago’s free speech policy and would be prohibited from protecting students from ideas deemed controversial or offensive.A sponsor of the bill, Representative Gino Bulso, said during debate that he hoped the bill would make Tennessee the “gold standard” for colleges “when it comes to divisive political and social issues.”Mr. Bulso praised Kirk’s activism on college campuses, saying he “devoted his life to making sure that we could have civil, robust debate on college campuses … [he] was someone who encouraged everyone to love others.”“He wanted to be known for his courage and for his faith. He actually was someone, who without apology, defended the truth,” Mr. Bulso said. State Democrats opposed the bill, saying it is “overly restrictive.”A state senator who opposed the legislation, Jeff Yarbro, said, “We say we want an area where ideas are contested, but what this does is it creates a pathway to crack down on free expression.”“Walking out of a room during a speech is one of the simplest, easiest, least obstructive forms of expression known to man,” he added.The Tennessee senate passed the bill last month, and it now goes to Governor Bill Lee’s desk. Several states have passed bills that lawmakers say are meant to honor Kirk. Earlier this month, Georgia passed a bill that would prevent schools from denying access to school facilities for student meetings due to ideological reasons.Lawmakers in Kansas overrode the Democratic governor’s veto of a bill that would prevent colleges from creating limited spaces where students and visitors can engage in First Amendment activity. That bill, known as the KIRK Act, states that all outdoor areas of campuses are public forums.

Tennessee Lawmakers Pass ‘Charlie Kirk Act,’ Barring Colleges From Uninviting Controversial Speakers

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