Florida’s higher education landscape is bracing for a seismic shift after state Rep. Kevin Steele (R) filed a bill on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, that could force public universities and colleges to rename prominent campus roads after the late conservative activist Charlie Kirk—or risk losing critical state funding. The legislation, House Bill 113, is poised to take effect immediately if passed and signed into law, bypassing the usual July 1 implementation date for state measures.
The move comes less than a month after Kirk’s assassination at Utah Valley University on September 10, 2025, an event that sent shockwaves through political circles nationwide. The alleged killer, Tyler Robinson, is currently in custody and facing seven charges, according to Nexstar Media. Kirk, a young husband and father, was a polarizing figure in American political life, known for his outspoken advocacy and frequent campus appearances.
Rep. Steele’s proposal is unambiguous in its intent and its penalties. The bill mandates that each of Florida’s 40 public universities and colleges must rename a specific, high-profile road or portion of a road on campus in honor of Charlie James Kirk. The legislation leaves no room for creative compliance—institutions cannot simply pick a remote or insignificant stretch of pavement. Instead, the bill lists exactly which roads must bear Kirk’s name. At the University of South Florida, it’s USF Alumni Drive. The University of Central Florida is to rename Gemini Boulevard South, Florida State University must rechristen Chieftain Way, and the University of Florida’s Stadium Road is also included. Other examples cited in the bill include New College of Florida’s College Drive and Hillsborough College’s West Tampa Bay Boulevard from Air Cargo Road to North Dale Mabry.
Should any campus fail to comply within 90 days of the law’s effective date, the consequences are severe. As the proposal’s text states, “State funds shall be withheld from any state university or Florida College System institution whose board of trustees fails to redesignate the roadway or portion of a roadway listed in subsections (1) and (2), respectively, within 90 days after the effective date of this act.” For Florida’s public colleges and universities, the threat of losing state funding is no idle warning—it could jeopardize everything from faculty salaries and student services to research programs and infrastructure projects.
Rep. Steele, in a statement on X (formerly Twitter), said, “I’m honored to file HB 113, which renames a street at each of the 40 public institutions in Florida to Charlie James Kirk.” He added, “My goal with this bill is to continue his legacy through generations of students that will attend our schools and will be faced with many differing ideas.” According to Fox News, Steele’s intent is to memorialize Kirk in a way that ensures his name and influence endure on Florida campuses for decades to come.
The bill has already stirred intense debate and drawn sharp criticism from across the political spectrum. Democratic State Rep. Anna Eskamani was quick to voice her opposition on social media, arguing, “This is clearly designed to elicit intense reactions from all sides, but it does reinforce the importance of getting involved in your local & state government.” Eskamani’s remarks reflect a broader unease among Democrats and some university stakeholders, who see the bill as an overtly partisan maneuver that politicizes public spaces and leverages state funding to enforce ideological conformity.
Yet the push to honor Kirk is not confined to Florida. Similar bills have surfaced in other states. In Oklahoma, a lawmaker has filed legislation to create a Kirk memorial on all state campuses, according to Nexstar Media. Meanwhile, Lake County, Florida, has already moved ahead on its own. Following a unanimous 5-0 vote by County Commissioner Anthony Sabatini, a stretch of Wellness Way—from US 27 to the Orange County line—has been designated the Charlie Kirk Memorial Highway. Governor Ron DeSantis noted the dedication on social media, highlighting Lake County as the first in the nation to memorialize Kirk in the wake of his assassination.
Beyond renaming roads, the campaign to enshrine Kirk’s legacy has taken on creative and symbolic dimensions. Around the country, murals have sprung up in his honor, and several Florida institutions are planning or installing statues. The New College of Florida, for instance, has proposed a statue as a testament to its commitment to “defend and fight for free speech and civil discourse in American life.” Ave Maria University is expected to install a sculpture of Kirk with Jesus Christ, crafted by renowned Catholic sculptor Timothy Schmalz. Schmalz told the Catholic News Agency, “My hope with the sculpture is that it gives some dignity to the human life of Charlie and to all of us. We are slowly moving away from this dignity in culture today … We are in a culture of nihilism, and our secular society has to be challenged. If we are in a culture war, we have to fight it with culture.”
The debate over House Bill 113 has also exposed deeper rifts about the role of public institutions in commemorating political figures. Supporters argue that Kirk’s legacy deserves recognition, especially given his influence on student life and conservative discourse. They point to the wave of grassroots efforts—murals, statues, and now, road dedications—as evidence of his enduring impact. Detractors, however, warn that the bill sets a dangerous precedent by tying state funding to ideological compliance and question whether honoring a controversial activist in such a sweeping manner truly reflects the diversity of viewpoints on Florida’s campuses.
Some faculty and student groups have expressed concern that the bill could stifle academic freedom and chill open debate. Others worry about the logistical hurdles and costs of renaming major campus roads, especially on short notice. At the same time, the bill’s supporters see it as a fitting tribute to a man who, in their view, championed free speech and robust public discourse—even, or perhaps especially, when it courted controversy.
It’s not just the symbolism of road names or statues at stake. The immediate threat to state funding has university administrators on edge, as they weigh compliance against potential backlash from students, faculty, and alumni. With committee work already underway ahead of Florida’s next legislative session in January, the bill is sure to remain a flashpoint in the months ahead.
As the dust settles from Kirk’s assassination and the debate over his legacy intensifies, Florida’s educational institutions and lawmakers face a pivotal question: How should a state remember those who shaped its public discourse, and at what cost to its own values of pluralism and academic independence? The answer, it seems, will play out not just in legislative chambers, but on the very roads that wind through the heart of Florida’s campuses.
