Florida has officially renamed the "Gulf of Mexico" to the "Gulf of America" in state law and educational materials.

TALLAHASSEE, FL — In a move that signals Florida’s intent to rebrand its coastline, Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed two bills into law officially renaming references to the “Gulf of Mexico” within the state as the “Gulf of America.”

What the Legislations Do

• HB 575 mandates that all statutory references within Florida law that previously used "Gulf of Mexico" must be updated to "Gulf of America."

• HB 549 requires that state agencies update geographic and instructional materials (such as school textbooks and library resources) to reflect the new name for any materials adopted or acquired starting July 1, 2025.

Effective Date for these changes is July 1, 2025.

Context & Motivations

This initiative aligns with an executive order signed by President Donald Trump on January 20, 2025, titled "Restoring Names That Honor American Greatness," which directed the renaming of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America at the federal level.

Florida becomes the first U.S. state to legally codify this name change through both statute and educational policy.

Supporters of the change, including Republican Senate President Ben Albritton and bill sponsors such as Sen. Nick DiCeglie and Sen. Joe Gruters, framed the shift as an act of patriotism and a commitment to "American exceptionalism." Reactions & Implications

• State Agencies & Education: Agencies are already gearing up to implement the name change across all maps, signs, forms, and documents.

• Florida Fish & Wildlife Commission (FWC) has pledged to update its materials accordingly.

• Critics and observers may question the significance and costs of such rebranding efforts—especially for school districts, publishers, and cartographers.