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Committee advances 'Charlie Kirk Act' to standardize free‑speech rules on public campuses
Summary
HB 14‑76 would require public colleges to adopt expression policies aligned with University of Chicago guidance and limit disinvitations; sponsor described it as reinforcing neutrality while critics said it is largely symbolic as amended.
The committee advanced HB 14‑76, a bill that would require public colleges and universities to adopt freedom‑of‑expression policies modeled on the University of Chicago guidelines and to limit canceling or disinviting speakers based on viewpoint.
The sponsor said the bill "requires our public colleges and universities to adopt a policy regarding freedom of expression that is the same as or similar to the freedom of expression policy adopted at the University of Chicago in 2015," and noted the statute also directs schools to adopt political‑action neutrality consistent with historical academic guidance. The sponsor said the bill "is principally why we've named this, the Charlie Kirk Act."
Representative Johnson said as amended the bill "doesn't do a whole lot" because universities already maintain speech policies; she also raised concerns about applying the law to divisive figures whose statements some find racist or inflammatory. Supporters said the measure protects campus debate and cited the University of Chicago approach as a model.
The committee voted to advance HB 14‑76 to calendar and rules, recorded 16‑4. Members said the bill aims to make campus policy consistent statewide, while opponents argued the statute may be largely symbolic once existing institutional policies are considered.
