The Alabama House of Representatives passed HB2 Tuesday 74-30, a bill that would require state and local governments to use the name “Gulf of America” in place of “Gulf of Mexico” for all official purposes.

The bill, sponsored by State Rep. David Standridge (R-Hayden), follows a January executive order from President Trump directing federal agencies to adopt the new name. Florida and Louisiana have passed similar legislation.

Under the bill, the change would take effect October 1, 2026. State and local agencies would be required to implement the new name where practicable, though the bill includes a carve-out allowing schools, colleges, and universities to continue using “Gulf of Mexico” in historical or educational contexts.

Agencies would not be required to immediately replace signage or materials where doing so would create a financial burden, with changes expected to phase in over time during routine update cycles.

Standridge said the rename reflects the outsized role the United States plays in the body of water.

“The name better reflects what this gulf, this body of water means to our country,” Standridge said. “We protect it, we use it more than any other country. I think the name better reflects that.”

Standridge also argued that the more states that adopt the name, the harder it would be for a future administration to reverse it.

“The state of Florida did it, Louisiana — I think the more states that do it makes it a lot more unlikely for another president to change it,” he said. “I think it’s an opportunity to make a patriotic statement. I think the president would embrace that.”

The bill’s scope is limited to Alabama state law and government communications.

HB2 now heads to the Senate for consideration.

Sawyer Knowles is a capitol reporter for Yellowhammer News. You may contact him at [email protected].