Tennessee’s HB 1476, dubbed the “Charlie Kirk Act,” heads to Gov. Bill Lee after legislators approved a statewide limit on “staging walkouts” at public university events. The bill would require colleges to adopt elements of the University of Chicago’s free-expression policy and restrict students from obstructing or interfering with invited speakers. Under the measure, “walkouts” are defined as any disruption that pauses or distracts from the event, and repeat violations could trigger probation, suspension, and expulsion. The bill also includes language preventing colleges from disinviting speakers due to beliefs or opposition. Faculty and speech advocates warn the policy could be ambiguous to administer and may enable political bias in discipline decisions, complicating how public institutions balance viewpoint protection with event safety and order.