The Florida Senate recently passed bills 28-9 that would change all state statutes as well as require state agencies, school boards, and charter schools to update geographic and instructional materials from the “Gulf of Mexico” to the "Gulf of America."
The widespread changes now head to Gov. Ron DeSantis's desk for his signature.
Sen. Nick DiCeglie (R-Indian Rocks Beach) filed the Senate version of the statute change (SB 608). Reps. Tyler Sirois (R-Merritt Island) and Meg Weinberger (R-Palm Beach Gardens) filed the House version (HB 575).
"This bill renames the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America throughout Florida Statutes," DiCeglie simply said.
Sen. DiCeglie said the Gulf of America change was patriotic when asked about modifying the name change to Gulf of Americas and others from Sen. Daryl Ervin Rouson (D-St. Petersburg).
Sen. Lori Berman (D-Boyton Beach) indicated the bills had no practical purpose and diverted attention and resources from other pressing issues affecting Floridians.
DiCeglie said he could "chew gum and walk at the same time" to focus on other issues in response.
The other passed bill, SB 1058 on K-12 instructional materials, was filed by Sen. Gruters (R-Sarasota). Rep. Juan Porras (R-Miami) filed the House version of the bill (HB 549), which has already passed.
"This bill will align Florida with President Trump's executive order of restoring names that honor American greatness," Gruters said. "As you probably have looked on apps on your phone in other places, it already has changed the name of Gulf of Mexico to Gulf of America."
President Donald Trump signed Executive Order 14172 (“Restoring Names That Honor American Greatness”) in January.
"What we are doing is changing all the educational products and all the state agency stuff from one to the other as they come up. We're not forcing anybody to do it. It should cost no money. It should be super simple. And we don't want to confuse anybody, so this is the right thing to do," Gruters added.
The Senate substituted the House bills passed recently for its own product. Florida
If signed by Gov. DeSantis into law, the bill would go into effect on July 1.
