Texas Senate considers bills to rename Gulf of Mexico as Gulf of America

Texas state agencies are set to undergo a significant change following the Senate Committee on State Affairs meeting on April 7, 2025. The committee discussed Senate Bill 14 10, which mandates the renaming of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America in all official state documents, policies, and regulations. This move aligns Texas state terminology with federal directives, particularly an executive order issued by former President Trump that emphasizes American exceptionalism.

Vice Chair Paxton presented the bill, highlighting its importance for emergency management, commercial operations, and public health sectors. The committee members engaged in discussions about the implications of this renaming, which aims to standardize terminology across state and federal levels.

In addition to Senate Bill 14 10, the committee reviewed Senate Bill 17 17 and Senate Joint Resolution 63, both of which also seek to formalize the name change in various legal contexts, including the state constitution. These measures reflect a broader trend of aligning state laws with federal policies regarding geographic nomenclature.

Public testimony included support from Chuck Devore of the Texas Public Policy Foundation, who emphasized the economic significance of the Gulf and the rationale behind the name change. He noted that the Gulf is primarily associated with trade involving the United States, Mexico, and Cuba, and argued that different names for geographic features are common worldwide.

All three measures—Senate Bill 14 10, Senate Bill 17 17, and Senate Joint Resolution 63—were left pending as the committee concluded public testimony. The discussions signal a notable shift in how Texas will officially refer to this vital body of water, with potential implications for state identity and policy alignment moving forward.