OK Senate Bill Proposes Kirk Memorial at University Campuses

A new proposed senate bill seeks to create memorial plazas for Charlie Kirk on college campuses across Oklahoma. Senate Bill 1187 would require public institutions of higher learning across the state to establish a “Charlie Kirk Memorial Plaza”. The requirements for this plaza include placement in a prominent, highly visible and easily accessible area, like a student union, the central quad, or main entrance pathways. Also included would be a statue of Charlie Kirk – as well as a summary detailing Kirk’s life and work.

Colleges would be allowed to accept donations from the national endowment for the arts, as well as any private, corporate, or public source to fund development, maintenance, and enhancement of the memorial and associated statues. The legislature may optionally appropriate donation matching funds to encourage community support for the memorials. Plans must be proposed by March 1, 2026, and construction must be finished by March 1, 2027. Fees for noncompliance will be set at 1% of the university’s operating budget for the entire year. This fee will recur for every month of noncompliance.

Affected universities and colleges include the University of Central Oklahoma. The full list includes 25 universities and community colleges across the state. The State Regents are directed in the text of the bill to create guidelines for usage of the plaza “to ensure it remains a neutral forum for protected speech.”