SB 1959

This bill requires t he board of regents, each state university board, and the board of trustees for the University of Tennessee system to designate and maintain on the main campus of each public institution of higher education governed by the board, a courtyard to be known as the "Charlie Kirk Memorial Courtyard for Civil Debate"" to remind students, faculty, staff, and visitors of the valu e of civil discourse and to encourage those who visit the courtyard to exchange differing ideas and opinions with civil ity and respect. Such courtyard must meet all of the following criteria:  Measure 40 feet by 40 feet or any reasonable configuration of those dimensions so long as the total dimensions of the courtyard are no less than 1, 600 square feet .  Display the declaration of rights in Article I of the Tennessee Constitution in its entirety on the northern side of the courtyard .  Display the Ten Commandments in their entirety on the southern side of the courtyard .  Display the Bill of Rights in its entirety on the eastern side of the courtyard .  Display the Declaration of Independence in its entirety on the western side of the courtyard .  Be installed on each campus as required in this section and open to students, faculty, staff, and visitors by December 31, 2026. Additionally, this bill requires each display described above to meet all of the following criteria:  Measure, at a minimum, 24 inches by 36 inches with a minimum 36 -point font size, and be installed so that the center of the display is no higher than 5 feet above the ground .  Include ""Charlie Kirk Memorial Courtyard for Civil Debate"" and ""September 10, 2025"" at the top or bottom of the display .  Be constructed in a manner and of materials designed to withstand the weather conditions of the area in which it is located. This bill authorizes the board of regents, each state university board, and the board of trustees for the University of Tennessee system to receive and use gifts, donations, and grants of money, property, and services for purposes of designing, installing, and maintaining a Charlie Kirk Memorial Courtyard for Civil Debate."