Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a pair of bills on Monday that will update all statutory references in Florida law from the "Gulf of Mexico" to the "Gulf of America" and put the name change in geographic and instructional materials in K -12 schools.
Gov. DeSantis signed the statute change (HB 575) and academic changes (HB 549) alongside Florida lawmakers involved in their passage. Florida is the first state to recognize the Gulf of America legally in the United States.
Republican Senate President Ben Albritton celebrated the signing on Monday.
"I’m proud to say Florida stands with @RealDonaldTrump in the fight to recognize the Gulf of America and celebrate American exceptionalism," Albritton said. Thank you @GovRonDeSantis for signing these bills into law."
Reps. Tyler Sirois (R-Merritt Island) and Meg Weinberger (R-Palm Beach Gardens) filed the House version of HB 575, while Rep. Juan Porras (R-Miami) sponsored HB 549.
Sen. Nick DiCeglie (R-Indian Rocks Beach) also celebrated the signing. Sen. DiCeglie filed the Senate version of the statute bill (SB 608).
"It was an honor to join @GovRonDeSantis as he signed our bill to officially rename the #GulfofAmerica in Florida statute, maps, and textbooks," Sen. DiCeglie said. "Thank you to our Governor for supporting this common-sense, patriotic legislation!"
Now official, the Gulf of America has a coastline length of 770 miles along Florida's west coast. It also encompasses over 600,000 square miles alongside five U.S. states, Mexico, and the island of Cuba.
Sen. Joe Gruters (R-Sarasota), who filed the Senate version (SB 1058) on academic materials, thanked President Donald Trump and DeSantis for signing the bill.
"Gulf of America is now here in Florida! Thanks @RealDonaldTrump and @GovRonDeSantis for signing it into law," Gruters said.
In January, DeSantis first referred to the Gulf of America in an executive order declaring a state of emergency over a winter storm. The move came right after President Trump signed an executive order (“Restoring Names That Honor American Greatness”) changing the Gulf of Mexico to its new name.
The former Gulf of Mexico first appeared on maps used by Spanish explorers in the 16th century. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum insisted almost immediately after Trump's executive order that Mexico had no plans to change the name.
The law will go into effect on July 1.
