Bill Text: TX HB3634 | 2025-2026 | 89th Legislature | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating to renaming the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2025-03-03 - Filed [HB3634 Detail]

Download: Texas-2025-HB3634-Introduced.html

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89R11265 JCG-F
By: Metcalf H.B. No. 3634

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to renaming the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
ARTICLE 1. RENAMING OF TERMS IN STATE AGENCY RULES, POLICIES, AND
OTHER MATERIALS
SECTION 1.01. Subtitle B, Title 10, Government Code, is
amended by adding Chapter 2063 to read as follows:
CHAPTER 2063. RENAMING GULF OF MEXICO AS GULF OF AMERICA
SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS
Sec. 2063.001. SHORT TITLE. This chapter may be cited as
the Renaming of the Gulf of Mexico for State Agency Consistency Act.
Sec. 2063.002. PURPOSE. The purpose of this chapter is to
ensure all state agencies align their rules, policies, and
administrative actions with federal directives or law regarding the
renaming of the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America. This chapter
seeks to safeguard state interests and property rights and provide
for administrative consistency with federal laws, regulations, and
funding mechanisms, while prioritizing public health and safety.
Sec. 2063.003. DEFINITION. In this chapter, "state agency"
means:
(1) a department, commission, board, office, or other
agency that is in the executive branch of state government and that
was created by the constitution or a statute, including an
institution of higher education as defined by Section 61.003,
Education Code;
(2) the legislature or a legislative state agency; or
(3) the supreme court, the court of criminal appeals,
a court of appeals, a district court, or the Texas Judicial Council
or another agency in the judicial branch of state government.
Sec. 2063.004. NO IMPAIRMENT ON LAW, RULES, OR PROCEEDINGS
INTENDED. Nothing in this chapter may be construed to impair the
legal validity or effect of a law or rule that contains a reference
to the Gulf of Mexico or a legal proceeding governed by a law or rule
containing a reference to the Gulf of Mexico.
Sec. 2063.005. NONAPPLICABILITY. This chapter does not
apply to a rule, policy, or other material in which renaming the
Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America violates a condition of
federal law or an executive order on which federal funding,
benefits, obligations, or other legal requirements is based.
SUBCHAPTER A-1. PUBLIC COMMENT BY GOVERNOR AND SECRETARY OF STATE
Sec. 2063.031. PUBLIC COMMENT AND REPORT. (a) Not later
than January 1, 2026, the governor, in collaboration with the
secretary of state, shall:
(1) provide an opportunity for the public to comment
on the implementation of this chapter; and
(2) produce a report summarizing the public commentary
received under Subdivision (1).
(b) The period of public comment required by Subsection (a)
must be at least 30 days.
(c) State agencies and political subdivisions may provide
commentary under this section identifying and addressing any
potential challenges to the implementation of this chapter.
Sec. 2063.032. EXPIRATION. This subchapter expires January
1, 2027.
SUBCHAPTER B. POWERS AND DUTIES OF STATE AGENCIES IN RENAMING GULF
OF MEXICO TO GULF OF AMERICA
Sec. 2063.051. DEADLINE TO RENAME. Not later than April 1,
2026, each state agency shall change each reference to the "Gulf of
Mexico" in the state agency's rules, policies, and other materials
to the "Gulf of America."
Sec. 2063.052. PRIORITY RENAMING. A state agency shall
prioritize the renaming required by Section 2063.051 in rules,
policies, and other materials that directly impact public health
and safety, homeland security, state sovereignty, and the
protection of commerce, including rules, policies, and other
materials regarding:
(1) emergency management and disaster response in
order to protect lives, property, and critical infrastructure in
the Gulf of America region;
(2) the continuity of commercial operations in and
around the Gulf of America region to ensure economic stability and
key commercial sectors in this state;
(3) public health advisories concerning gulf-related
resources, such as fisheries and water quality, in order to protect
the well-being of this state's residents;
(4) the coordination with federal and state homeland
security agencies to address risks associated with border security,
security maritime operations, and potential threats to critical
assets, including commercial shipping routes and port facilities in
or on the Gulf of America;
(5) environmental protection regulations to safeguard
the Gulf of America's natural resources, ensuring resilience
against threats such as pollution, natural disasters, and
disruptions to industries reliant on these resources; and
(6) policies that preserve state sovereignty over the
management and utilization of Texas coastal resources while
supporting trade, commerce, and alignment with federal directives
to maintain the economic strength of the region.
Sec. 2063.053. RULEMAKING. (a) Except as provided by
Subsection (b), a state agency shall adopt, readopt, amend, or
repeal the state agency's rules in accordance with the procedures
of Chapter 2001 as necessary to change the references to the Gulf of
Mexico to the Gulf of America.
(b) A state agency is not required to amend a rule under this
chapter if the amendment would impose an undue burden or cost on the
residents, businesses, or political subdivisions of this state.
SUBCHAPTER C. PLANNING; COMPLIANCE; FEDERAL COORDINATION
Sec. 2063.101. PLANNING. A state agency shall adopt a plan
for performing the state agency's duties under this chapter. The
plan must include detailed procedures and documentation of each
person's duties under the plan.
Sec. 2063.102. COMPLIANCE; DOCUMENTATION OF COSTS. A state
agency shall ensure that in performing the state agency's duties
under this chapter:
(1) the state agency complies with the requirements of
any federal law or executive order renaming the Gulf of Mexico as
the Gulf of America;
(2) the expenditures made for purposes of renaming the
Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America comply with applicable federal
and state laws; and
(3) the costs associated with performing the state
agency's duties under this chapter are documented.
Sec. 2063.103. DATA INTEGRITY AND SECURITY. A state agency
shall maintain data integrity and security in performing the state
agency's duties under this chapter.
Sec. 2063.104. FEDERAL COORDINATION AUTHORIZED. A state
agency may coordinate with any federal office or agency in
performing the state agency's duties under this chapter.
Sec. 2063.105. REPORT ON PROGRESS AND DELAYS. (a) Not
later than September 1, 2026, each state agency shall issue a report
to the legislature on the progress the state agency has made in
implementing this chapter, any challenges the state agency
encountered in implementing this chapter, and any issues the agency
needs to address to complete implementation of this chapter,
including as necessary recommendations for further action to ensure
compliance with this chapter.
(b) This section expires January 1, 2027.
SUBCHAPTER D. FUTURE CHANGES TO NAMES
Sec. 2063.151. GOVERNOR AUTHORIZED TO ORDER NAME CHANGE.
(a) If federal law or executive order requires governmental
entities to rename a place or thing, other than the Gulf of Mexico,
the governor by executive order may require each state agency to
rename the place or thing under procedures similar to the
procedures prescribed by this chapter.
(b) The governor may establish procedures for the renaming
described by Subsection (a) similar to the procedures under this
chapter and establish additional procedures as necessary regarding
notice to the public or interagency coordination for purposes of
this section.
SUBCHAPTER E. ENFORCEMENT
Sec. 2063.201. AUDIT BY STATE AUDITOR. (a) The state
auditor may review as necessary the operations and financial
statements of a state agency to ensure the state agency is in
compliance with this chapter.
(b) After a review conducted under this section, the state
auditor shall issue recommendations for corrective actions to the
state agency.
Sec. 2063.202. INJUNCTION BY ATTORNEY GENERAL. The
attorney general may bring an action for injunctive relief against
a state agency that violates or is threatening to violate this
chapter to compel the state agency to comply with this chapter.
ARTICLE 2. RENAMING OF TERMS IN TEXAS CODES AND STATUTES
SECTION 2.01. Subchapter A, Chapter 311, Government Code,
is amended by adding Section 311.007 to read as follows:
Sec. 311.007. REFERENCES TO GULF OF MEXICO. (a) A
reference in law to the Gulf of Mexico is a reference to the Gulf of
America.
(b) For purposes of this section, "Gulf of America" means
the body of water formerly known as the Gulf of Mexico and renamed
the "Gulf of America" by federal law or executive order.
SECTION 2.02. Subchapter B, Chapter 312, Government Code,
is amended by adding Section 312.017 to read as follows:
Sec. 312.017. REFERENCES TO GULF OF MEXICO. (a) A
reference in law to the Gulf of Mexico is a reference to the Gulf of
America.
(b) For purposes of this section, "Gulf of America" means
the body of water formerly known as the Gulf of Mexico and renamed
the "Gulf of America" by federal law or executive order.
SECTION 2.03. The Texas Legislative Council shall prepare
for consideration by the 90th Legislature a nonsubstantive revision
of the Texas codes and revised statutes changing each reference to
the "Gulf of Mexico" to the "Gulf of America."
ARTICLE 3. EFFECTIVE DATE
SECTION 3.01. This Act takes effect immediately if it
receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each
house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.
If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate
effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2025.