Florida Bill Requiring 'Gulf of America' Title in Future School Books, Maps, Advances

TALLAHASSEE—A bill requiring all new Gulf-related materials purchased by public and charter schools to reflect the name "Gulf of America" passed its first Senate committee Tuesday, hoping to align with President Donald Trump's January executive order.

Filed by Republican Sen. Joe Gruters, SB 1058 says that all books and maps purchased after Jul. 1 by state agencies, district school boards, and charter school governing boards have the "Gulf of America" title instead of the "Gulf of Mexico"—corresponding to President Trump's name change decree on Jan. 20.

"[The bill aligns] with President Trump's executive order 'Restoring Names That Honor American Greatness,'" said Gruters, the former GOP Chairman, in the Senate Governmental Oversight and Accountability meeting. "As you probably notice, maps that we use every day have already made the change to Gulf of America, and moving forward, it is important to update geographic and instructional materials for Floridians."

After the bill's hearing, he told The Floridian that the measure would only apply to new materials purchased, not mandate schools to replace their current maps and textbooks with ones featuring the "Gulf of America" title.

"We're trying to make sure it costs as little as possible for the school districts," he said. "Anything that's existing can stay."

The bill was inspired by Trump's inauguration-day executive order directing the Gulf of Mexico, which first appeared on a map in 1550, to be renamed the Gulf of America. The name change sparked an unusual battle between the Trump administration and the Associated Press after the wire outlet's popular stylebook—referred to by many for guidance on grammar and stylistic choices—said it would continue to call the Gulf the "Gulf of Mexico."

Trump promptly barred AP reporters from the Oval Office and Air Force One, prompting the AP to file suit in federal court. The White House Correspondents' Association, the group traditionally in charge of determining which outlets can enter the press pool, supported the AP.

A hearing is expected later this month.

In late February, Trump took the battle a step further by announcing that his administration—not the WHCA—would decide which outlets are allowed into the press pool.

Gruters's bill, sponsored by Rep. Juan Carlos Porras in the House, is one of two measures addressing the name change. Sen. Nick DiCeglie and Rep. Tyler Sirois have legislation this session renaming all Gulf references in Florida statutes—DiCeglie's passed its first committee later on Tuesday. An older version of Gruters's bill would have renamed the Tamiami Trail the "Gulf of America" Trail, though he struck that language on Monday.

SB 1058 passed in a 5-1 vote, with Democrat Sen. Kristen Arrington joining Republicans in advancing the measure and Democrat Sen. Tina Polsky being the sole "no" vote.