Now that “Gulf of America” is the official name, a Florida state senator has filed a bill to update all “Gulf of Mexico” references in state law. There are a lot.
Two days after the former Gulf of Mexico was officially renamed the Gulf of America and President Donald Trump proclaimed Feb. 9 as Gulf of America Day, Sen. Nick DiCeglie, R-St. Petersburg, filed SB 608 Tuesday morning to rename “Gulf of Mexico” in over 50 Florida statutes, including boundary line definitions for 11 coastal counties, revenue regulations, coastal construction and excavation restrictions, erosion control, beach management, coastal building zones, taxes for coastal protection, tidal lands titles and land acquisitions, nature preserve boundaries, marine animal regulations and all other aspects of Florida law that need to mention the Gulf.
Trump issued an executive order renaming the Gulf on his first day back in office, strongly urging the members of the U.S. Board on Geographic Names to expedite it. It became official on Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025. Trump signed the proclamation observing “Gulf of America Day” while traveling to the Super Bowl in New Orleans on Air Force One.
The Federal Aviation Association and Google Maps made the change by the next day.
If passed, when would Florida statutes recognize ‘Gulf of America’?
The change would go into effect July 1, 2025.
When does the Florida Legislative Session for 2025 begin?
The Florida Legislative Session runs 60 days, starting March 4, 2025.
Florida GOP embraces Gulf of America
When then-President-elect Trump mentioned the plan out of the blue in January during a press conference in which he also talked about annexing Canada, the Panama Canal and Greenland, Florida Republicans were quick to jump on the new name.
U.S. Rep. Greg Steube, R-Sarasota, posted on social media, “Come visit our beautiful district and take a dip in the Gulf of AMERICA!” Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Naples, simply posted video from the press conference and “THE GULF OF AMERICA #MakeTheAmericasGreatAgain.” Rep. Kat Cammack, R-Gainesville didn’t comment, but she reposted a post from Iowa Rep. Ashley Hinson saying the name had a nice ring to it.
Within hours of Trump’s executive order, Gov. Ron DeSantis became the first person to use the new name in an official capacity, when he issued his own order about the freak winter storm that blanketed North Florida in record-breaking snow and ice.
