One of the bills (HB 575) will change dozens of state laws to reflect the name change, while the other (HB 549) will require state agencies to update "geographic materials" to reflect the change.

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.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed two bills into law on Monday in relation to the Gulf of Mexico. DeSantis signed HB 575 which formally recognizes the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America. Sign up for our Newsletters HB 549 requires state agencies to update graphic materials to reflect the designation from Gulf of Mexico to Gulf of America.