Republican state senators found not just one but two ways Wednesday to honor Charlie Kirk.
And one is crafted help raise money for Turning Point USA, the organization he founded.
On a party-line vote, the Senate approved SB 1010 to rename the entire 78-mile Loop 202 around the Phoenix metro area as the "Charlie Kirk Loop 202."
The proposal comes from Senate President Warren Petersen who said that it will ensure that "Arizonans are regularly reminded of the tremendous legacy of this champion of free speech who was assassinated for his stand."
Moments later, on the same 16-12 margin, the Senate gave its blessing to SB 1439. It authorizes the state Department of Transportation to create a special license plate that Arizonans could purchase which would serve as a memorial to Kirk.
Both measures now go to the House. And, if approved there, both would require the signature of Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs.
She declined through a spokeswoman to comment about her intent.
The votes followed some debate about whether the controversial Kirk, assassinated last year, both is worthy of the honor as well as the maneuver to bypass the normal procedure to name a highway — a procedure that requires someone have been gone for at least five years.
It starts with the highway.
Lawmakers of both parties have approved a series of requests by various organizations to create special license plates. In fact, there are now more than 100 options from which motorists can choose, from Boy Scouts and promoting organ donations to funding research into Alzheimer's diseases and funding the Arizona Life Coalition to promote its anti-abortion measure.
Part of the reason for these requests is to visibly promote the cause. But most of it is designed to raise money. It can be lucrative: ADOT reports the charities that have these plates collected $12 million in 2024.
In this case, as in for all special plates, that starts with the group that seeks to benefit raising the $32,000 to start the process, including design of the plates. Once that is raised, ADOT adds it to the list of available options — if the vehicle owner pays an extra $25 a year. Of that fee, $8 goes to ADOT, with the sponsoring organization getting the $17 balance.
There is an an interesting quirk with how all that happens: Lawmakers cannot approve a special plate and say in statute that only a particular organization can qualify. Instead, they legally have to craft each measure that — at least on paper — is designed to let any group that qualifies to get the plate and benefit from the sales.
But there are ways around that. The key is in the wording.
So, strictly speaking, there's nothing in SB 1439 that says the money will go to Turning Point USA.
Instead, it says the entity wanting the cash must "educate people through the development of knowledge, skills, values and motivation to engage in communities to restore traditional values, including patriotism and fiscal responsibility and the respect for life, liberty and family."
But to further ensure that Turning Point — and only Turning Point — qualifies, it adds a requirement to have a grassroots activist network on high school and college campuses in the state and that it assists college students in registering to vote and obtain absentee ballots.
And if that doesn't narrow it enough, there's one other condition: The qualifying group must "have been founded in 2012," the year that Turning Point was founded.
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The overall feeling of Turning Point USA’s annual AmericaFest conference in Phoenix three months after co-founder Charlie Kirk was assassinated at Utah Valley University was one of determination to carry out his legacy. -
Turning Point USA conference attendees in Phoenix say the organization is back stronger — and resonating with women — following co-founder Charlie Kirk’s assassination. -
The group is called National Ground Game, and they’re calling their event something we can’t say on the radio. -
Looking forward, Erika Kirk says Turning Point’s political arm will focus on keeping Congress in Republican hands and electing JD Vance as the 48th president in 2028. -
State Sen. Warren Petersen, Gilbert Republican and GOP candidate for attorney general, said Charlie Kirk should be publicly recognized by putting his name along a 78-mile stretch of Loop 202. -
Several cities and towns across the Valley will consider requests to officially memorialize conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was killed by a gunman last month. -
The memorial event honoring conservative activist Charlie Kirk was held at State Farm Stadium on Sept. 21, 2025. See KJZZ's coverage from Glendale. -
The Arizona Sports and Tourism Authority owns the stadium in Glendale. An authority spokesperson says event contracts, done by a separate stadium manager, are confidential.
