Alabama Senate resurrects Gulf of America bill

April 30, 2025 – MONTGOMERY, AL – On Tuesday an Alabama Senate Committee sent a message that the GOP controlled Senate was no longer on board the Trump agenda when they voted to kill a bill changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of Mexico. On Wednesday they thought better of that decision. The Senate Committee on County and Local Government voted to give favorable report to the controversial Gulf of America legislation.

House Bill 247 (HB247) was sponsored by State Representative David Standridge (R-Hayden). HB247 would adopt President Donald J, Trump's (R) name change of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America by the state of Alabama as well as the cities and county governments within the state.

According to the synopsis that bill would, "Rename the Gulf of Mexico as the "Gulf of America"; and to require all state and local entities and all employees of those entities to observe and implement the name change, where practicable."

Standridge said during the first committee meeting that President Trump had passed the change by executive order and that federal agencies were already implementing the change. Florida has passed this already. It has passed one House in Texas, and Louisiana is in the process of passing this.

Some Senators were concerned that changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico would present a financial burden for local governments who would have to print new signs and economic recruitment documents.

"Compliance is not required if that means that it would place a financial or operational burden on that entity or the state," responded Standridge.

On Tuesday the vote to give HB247 a favorable report ended in a TIE. Since it did not receive a favorable report from the committee the bill was effectively dead for this session. In Wednesday's called meeting of the committee, HB247 received the necessary votes for favorable report.

This means that the legislation is in position where it can go on the Senate calendar here in the remaining hours of the 2025 regular session. The full Senate would have to vote to pass it for HB247 to become law.

This legislation was prioritized by Alabama Governor Kay Ivey (R) in her state of the state address back in February.

Former State Representative Perry O. Hooper (R-Montgomery) helped bring this matter to the attention of Senate leaders.

"I would like to thank Senators Hovey, Gudger, Albritton, and Chairman Elliott for their effort and votes to pass President Trump's Gulf of America legislation."

Thursday will be Day 27 of the 2025 Alabama Regular Legislative Session. The Alabama Constitution of 1901 limits the Legislature to no more than 30 legislative days in a regular session.

Senator Garlan Gudger (R-Cullman) is the Senate President Pro Tempore – effectively the head of the Senate. He worked with Senator Chris Elliot (R-Josephine) – the chairman of the Senate County and Local Government Committee – and other Republican members of the committee to successfully advance this legislation.