1. United States
2. Ariz.
3. Letter

I urge you to oppose HB 2027, which would designate Loop 202 as the "Charlie Kirk Highway." This bill, sponsored by Representative Carbone with 28 co-sponsors, is scheduled for consideration by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee this Wednesday. The duplicate bill, SB 1010, has already passed its Senate committee, making timely action critical. Arizona has an established process for highway naming that requires review by a specific state board. This board maintains a policy of not naming infrastructure after individuals until at least five years after their death. This waiting period serves two essential purposes: it avoids political controversy and allows for proper historical perspective on a person's legacy. HB 2027 circumvents this deliberative process entirely. Loop 202 already carries meaningful designations. A 23-mile stretch honors longtime Arizona Congressman Ed Pastor, who was instrumental in securing the federal funding that made the highway's construction possible. That designation reflects genuine contribution to the infrastructure itself. Adding another name creates confusion and diminishes the recognition of those who actually built what we drive on today. The bill's timing raises serious concerns. Charlie Kirk's recent death, however tragic the circumstances, does not justify abandoning the five-year waiting period that exists precisely for situations like this. The policy exists because immediate naming decisions often fail to account for the full scope of someone's public record and impact on the community. Beyond process concerns, Kirk built his public profile on combative and divisive rhetoric. Highways should unite communities, not memorialize polarizing figures whose work centered on inflaming political tensions. Arizona deserves infrastructure naming that reflects broad consensus and genuine contribution to our state's development. I ask you to vote no on HB 2027 and preserve the integrity of Arizona's highway naming process. Our state board exists for good reason, and this bill sets a troubling precedent for bypassing established procedures.