TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida lawmakers are set to consider a new bill that would cement “Gulf of America” into Florida law.
On Tuesday, Sen. Nick DiCeglie (R-18) filed Senate Bill 608 with the state Legislature, potentially putting it up for approval by lawmakers when the next Legislative session kicks off in March.
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The bill comes in response to President Donald Trump’s executive order last month that directed the Secretary of the Interior to rename the “Gulf of Mexico” to the “Gulf of America.”
That order gave a 30-day time limit for the name change to be implemented through the federal GNIS, though the new designation can’t be applied to federal law without Congressional action.
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However, SB 608 seeks to do just that in Florida, replacing all references to the “Gulf of Mexico” with “Gulf of America,” officially sanctifying the name change under state law.
“Here in Pinellas, we’re making it official. Today, I filed legislation to ensure Florida state records reflect the new name of this beautiful body of water — the Gulf of America,” DiCeglie wrote on social media.
Other state officials have also accepted the name change, including Gov. Ron DeSantis, who used the new moniker just after the order was issued while declaring a state of emergency over frigid weather. The change was also adopted on Google Maps for U.S. users.
The bill does not yet have a companion in the Florida House.
Other countries and international groups will continue to call the body of water the Gulf of Mexico. The gulf has been called that for some four centuries.
News 6’s parent partner, Graham Media Group, is following guidance from the Associated Press, which says to continue to call it the Gulf of Mexico.
“As a global news agency that disseminates news around the world, the AP must ensure that place names and geography are easily recognizable to all audiences,” AP wrote in its guidance last month.
If SB 608 is approved, SB 608 will take effect later this year on July 1.
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