Chieftan Way, which cuts through Florida State University campus near Doak Campbell Stadium, might get a new name.
This week’s legislative proposal by one Florida lawmaker to rename three Tallahassee streets for slain conversative activist Charlie Kirk could bring changes to the state capital’s college campuses.
Florida lawmaker Kevin Steele, R-Dade City, has filed a bill requiring all Florida public state universities and colleges to rename one of their roads on their campuses after Kirk.
Kirk debated students around the country at numerous college campuses, including FSU, but never graduated from college. He was often critical of the quality of education and liberalism on campuses.
HB 113 proposes holding back “state funds” if a campus road is not renamed after Kirk. Here’s what we know about the proposal:
State Rep. Kevin Steele files HB 113 to rename roads on Florida campuses after Charlie Kirk
State Rep. Kevin Steele, R–Dade City, filed HB 113 in the Florida House on Oct. 7.
The bill would require state university and Florida College System institution board of trustees to “redesignate specified roads or portions of roads to certain names relating to Charlie James Kirk” within 90 days after the effective date of the act.
The bill would have to make it through multiple stops during the coming legislative session in January before it could become law under Gov. Ron DeSantis’ signature.
What happens if a college, university fails to name a road after Charlie Kirk?
The bill would require “state funds to be withheld” for any university that fails to redesignate a road or portion of a roadway within the specified time period.
What Tallahassee streets would be renamed under the proposal?
The bill specifies that in Tallahassee the following roads would be renamed.
Where is Chieftan Way?
Chieftan Way runs from Tennessee Street past Call Street, the Paul Dirac Library, the Leach Student Center and the FSU Flying High Circus lot and into Doak Campbell Stadium.
Where is West Osceola Street?
One big problem for the bill is that West Osceola Street no longer exists.
West Osceola Street, from Althea Gibson Way to Adams Street, was officially renamed by the Tallahassee City Commission “Rudy Hubbard Way” in March. The street renaming was approved at a January city commission meeting.
The road runs from Althea Gibson Way past the University Softball Dugout, the Foster Tanner Observation Tower, and across N. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. all the way to S. Adams Street.
The new Venom Landing residence hall at FAMU is also located at the corner of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and what was once Osceola Street.
Where is Progress Drive?
Starting off W. Pensacola Street, Progress Drive runs through the Tallahassee State College, past the State College Student Union Building and the TSC Lifetime Sports Complex.
How many street names would be renamed in Florida?
The bill calls for renaming streets at all 12 public state universities and 28 public and community state colleges.
Who was Charlie Kirk?
Conservative influencer Charlie Kirk, 31, was killed Sept. 10, 2025, while speaking in Orem, Utah, at Utah Valley University.
A bullet fired from a nearby rooftop struck Kirk’s neck as he was speaking. Prosecutors charged 22-year-old Utah resident Tyler Robinson with murder, along with other counts.
Kirk didn’t have a college degree. But the conservative built what he called “the largest pro-American student organization in the country,” Turning Point USA, over the last decade.
At a Turning Point political rally in December 2024, a month after winning the presidential election, Donald Trump credited Kirk and Turning Point with his victory.
Kirk gained fame as a vocal critic of liberalism in education. During Trump’s first term, the president named Kirk to a special commission meant to promote “patriotic education” and to prevent “left-wing indoctrination” in schools.
How else are Florida cities and counties looking to honor Charlie Kirk?
Numerous cities and counties are considering naming roads after Charlie Kirk.
Florida already may have the first official local road in the country named after him. On Sept. 23, the Lake County Commission unanimously voted to designate Charlie Kirk Memorial Highway and the signs are already reportedly up.
Marion County and the city of Ocala honored Kirk with a proclamation and will dedicate a road in his honor. Manatee County commissioners also unanimously approved a proposal to designate a portion of a Bradenton area street after Kirk and Sarasota County
Elected officials in Melbourne, Boynton Beach and Escambia County considered naming roads after him, but the proposals failed to get a majority vote.
New College of Florida also announced on Sept. 16 that the school will commission a statue of the conservative activist.
In Tallahassee, a candlelight vigil is scheduled for Kirk at the Capitol on Oct. 14 at 6 p.m. The day would have been Kirk’s 32nd birthday and has been designated by Congress as the “National Day of Remembrance for Charlie Kirk.”
This story contains information previously reported by Jim Rosica, Cheryl McCloud and USA TODAY Network staff.
(This story was updated to add new information about Rudy Hubbard Way)
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Will Chieftan Way at FSU and W. Osceola at FAMU be renamed for Charlie Kirk? What we know
Reporting by Martha Gruender, Tallahassee Democrat / Tallahassee Democrat
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
