Shown verbatim: the complete text as captured from the official PDF posted by the Oklahoma Legislature, fetched 2026-07-23. Page and line markers are part of the official record; nothing is edited or removed. The official bill page.
1 STATE OF OKLAHOMA
2 2nd Session of the 60th Legislature (2026)
3 SENATE BILL NO. 1187 By: Jett
4
5
6 AS INTRODUCED
7 An Act relating to higher education; stating
8 legislative findings; directing certain institutions
9 of higher education to establish certain square or
10 plaza for certain purpose; directing the Oklahoma
11 State Regents for Higher Education to establish
12 certain guidelines; requiring certain governing
13 boards to submit certain plan to the Legislature by
14 certain date; requiring the Legislature to approve
15 plans by certain method; allowing approval of certain
16 modifications; requiring squares or plazas to include
17 certain signage; requiring plans to include certain
18 statue; requiring the Legislature to approve certain
19 statue; authorizing acceptance of certain donations;
20 allowing matching funds; allowing certain private
21 institutions to apply for grant funds; requiring
22 completion of square or plaza by certain date;
23 requiring collection of fine for certain
24 noncompliance; providing for deposit of fines;
25 allowing the Legislature to extend certain deadline
26 by certain method; requiring submission of annual
27 report; requiring certain security measures for
28 square or plaza; providing penalties for defacement
29 or vandalism; directing the State Regents to
30 establish certain procedures; providing for
31 promulgation of rules; providing for codification;
32 and declaring an emergency.
33
34
35 BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
36 SECTION 1. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
Req. No. 2266 Page 1
1 in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 3205.15 of Title 70, unless
2 there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
3 A. The Legislature finds that:
4 1. Charlie Kirk, born on October 14, 1993, and tragically
5 martyred by assassination on September 10, 2025, was a fearless
6 defender of free speech, the founder and chief executive officer of
7 Turning Point USA, and a transformative force in empowering young
8 Americans to engage in open, robust discourse on college campuses;
9 2. In his honor and to perpetuate his legacy as a martyr for
10 truth, faith, and the First Amendment, each institution within The
11 Oklahoma State System of Higher Education shall establish on its
12 campus a dedicated square or plaza; and
13 3. Each such dedicated square or plaza shall be designated as
14 the Charlie Kirk Memorial Plaza to remind all to foster an
15 environment of intellectual freedom, civic engagement, and the
16 principles Kirk championed, ensuring that future generations
17 remember his courage, faith, sacrifice, and contributions to
18 American liberty.
19 B. Each institution of higher education within The Oklahoma
20 State System of Higher Education shall designate and develop a
21 prominent area on its main campus as the Charlie Kirk Memorial
22 Plaza. The square or plaza shall be located in a highly visible and
23 easily accessible location, such as near the central quad, student
24 union, or main entrance pathways, to maximize public awareness and
Req. No. 2266 Page 2
1 utilization.
2 C. The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education shall
3 establish guidelines for the minimum size and configuration of each
4 square or plaza required by subsection B of this section. The
5 guidelines shall provide allowances for proportionally reduced
6 dimensions at smaller institutions of higher education based on
7 campus acreage, student enrollment, and available space.
8 Notwithstanding such guidelines, all squares or plazas shall meet
9 the prominence and accessibility requirements of subsection B of
10 this section.
11 D. Prior to finalizing any square or plaza, the governing board
12 of each institution of higher education within The Oklahoma State
13 System of Higher Education shall submit a detailed plan to the
14 Legislature no later than March 1, 2027. The plan shall include a
15 proposed location, size, design elements, and a projected timeline
16 for completion. The Legislature shall review and approve, through a
17 resolution, the location and size of each square or plaza. The
18 Legislature may, through a resolution, approve or direct
19 modifications to any aspects of the proposed square or plaza design
20 including, but not limited to, location, size, landscaping, signage,
21 and commemorative features to ensure consistency with the purpose of
22 the square or plaza to honor the legacy of Charlie Kirk.
23 E. Each square or plaza shall include permanent signage
24 commemorating Charlie Kirk's courage and faith and explaining the
Req. No. 2266 Page 3
1 significance of Charlie Kirk as a voice of a generation, modern
2 civil rights leader, vocal Christian, martyr for truth and faith,
3 and free speech advocate. Square or plaza plans shall include a
4 statue of Charlie Kirk sitting at a table with an empty seat across
5 from him or a statue of Charlie Kirk and his wife standing and
6 holding their children in their arms as a central element of the
7 square or plaza design. The statue design and size shall be
8 approved by the Legislature as part of the overall design review and
9 approval process.
10 F. 1. Institutions of higher education within The Oklahoma
11 State System of Higher Education are authorized to accept donations
12 from the National Endowment for the Arts and any private, corporate,
13 or public source to fund the development, maintenance, and
14 enhancement of the squares or plazas and any associated statues.
15 Subject to the availability of funds, the Legislature may
16 appropriate donation matching funds to encourage broad-based support
17 for the squares or plazas.
18 2. Private institutions of higher education in this state may
19 apply to the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education for grant
20 funds to establish a Charlie Kirk Memorial Plaza on their campuses.
21 Subject to the availability of funds, grant funds shall be provided
22 in a manner consistent with funds provided to institutions pursuant
23 to paragraph 1 of this subsection for a square or plaza of similar
24 size and style.
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1 G. 1. Each institution of higher education within The Oklahoma
2 State System of Higher Education shall complete construction and
3 full operational readiness of its Charlie Kirk Memorial Plaza no
4 later than March 1, 2028.
5 2. Failure to meet the deadline established by paragraph 1 of
6 this subsection shall result in a punitive fine of one percent (1%)
7 of the institution of higher education's appropriated budget for
8 each month of noncompliance. Collected fines shall be deposited
9 into the General Revenue Fund.
10 3. The Legislature, by concurrent resolution, may extend the
11 deadline established by paragraph 1 of this subsection for
12 individual institutions of higher education that have started but
13 not yet completed construction of the square or plaza.
14 4. By March 1, 2027, and by March 1 each subsequent year, the
15 State Regents shall submit a report to the Legislature on progress
16 and compliance with the provisions of this section.
17 H. 1. The governing board of each institution of higher
18 education within The Oklahoma State System of Higher Education shall
19 take appropriate security measures to ensure the Charlie Kirk
20 Memorial Plaza and statues of Charlie Kirk are protected from
21 vandalism and defacement. The measures may include, but are not
22 limited to, security camera systems and physical barriers.
23 2. Any student, employee, or faculty member of an institution
24 of higher education found to have engaged in the defacement or
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1 vandalism of the Charlie Kirk Memorial Plaza or a statue of Charlie
2 Kirk shall be immediately terminated from enrollment or employment,
3 as applicable, in addition to other penalties which may include, but
4 are not limited to, monetary fines sufficient to cover the cost of
5 repairing any damage caused.
6 3. The State Regents shall establish procedures for rapidly
7 investigating and enforcing the provisions of this subsection while
8 prioritizing the preservation of the Charlie Kirk Memorial Plaza and
9 statue of Charlie Kirk.
10 I. The State Regents shall promulgate rules to implement the
11 provisions of this section including reporting requirements and
12 guidelines for usage of the square or plaza to ensure it remains a
13 neutral forum for protected speech.
14 SECTION 2. It being immediately necessary for the preservation
15 of the public peace, health, or safety, an emergency is hereby
16 declared to exist, by reason whereof this act shall take effect and
17 be in full force from and after its passage and approval.
18 60-2-2266 EB 09/16/2025
Req. No. 2266 Page 6Every fact on this page links to its source, starting with the official bill record.