Relating to renaming the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America.
Summary
SB 1410 would require Texas state agencies to replace references to the “Gulf of Mexico” with “Gulf of America” in agency rules, policies, and other materials, and it directs agencies to prioritize that change in materials tied to public health and safety, emergency management, homeland security, commerce, environmental protection, and coastal resource management. The bill also creates a short-lived public comment process led by the governor and secretary of state, requires agencies to document implementation plans, costs, and progress, and authorizes coordination with federal agencies to carry out the renaming.
The bill further amends the Texas Government Code so that, as a matter of statutory interpretation, references in Texas law to the Gulf of Mexico are treated as references to the Gulf of America if federal law or executive order has renamed the body of water. It also instructs the Texas Legislative Council to prepare a nonsubstantive revision of the codes and revised statutes reflecting the new terminology. The act would take effect immediately if it receives a two-thirds vote in each chamber; otherwise it would take effect September 1, 2025.
Impact
The bill would affect state agencies, the Texas Government Code, and future code revision work by establishing a statewide requirement to update terminology from “Gulf of Mexico” to “Gulf of America” in agency materials and by construing existing legal references accordingly. It also gives the governor authority to direct similar renaming actions for other places or things if required by federal law or executive order, and it provides for enforcement through state auditor review and possible attorney general injunctive relief. The bill includes exceptions where renaming would conflict with federal funding conditions or create undue burden or cost.
Sentiment
The available legislative history shows a favorable committee vote of 8-0 in the Senate State Affairs Committee, indicating clear support at that stage. No committee transcript or recorded floor debate was provided, so the broader discussion record is limited. Based on the bill text, supporters appear to frame the measure as an administrative consistency and federal-alignment bill, while the absence of recorded opposition in the provided materials suggests little visible committee resistance.
Contention
The main points of contention likely concern whether Texas should formally adopt the new federal terminology at all, and whether the required changes impose unnecessary administrative costs or burdens on agencies, residents, businesses, or political subdivisions. The bill itself anticipates these concerns by exempting rules where renaming would violate federal funding conditions and by allowing agencies to avoid amendments that would create undue burden or cost. Another possible area of concern is the breadth of the governor’s authority to order future name changes by executive order, which could raise separation-of-powers or policy-process questions, though no direct objections are included in the provided record.