TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WFLA) — Governor Ron DeSantis signed two bills renaming the “Gulf of Mexico” to the “Gulf of America” in Florida State Statutes making Florida the first state to recognize the change.
The bills (HB 575, and HB 549) were approved by DeSantis on Monday that would require state agencies to update geographic materials to reflect the “Gulf of America” and for instructional materials and library media center collections to change as well.
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The effective date will be on July 1, 2025.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Jan 20, that directed the U.S. Secretary of the Interior to rename the “Gulf of Mexico” to “Gulf of America.”
State and local governments would need to update official documents, websites, signage, publications, and other materials to reflect the new designation change, the bill analysis stated.
