By: Campbell  S.B. No. 1410          (In the Senate - Filed February 19, 2025; March 6, 2025,   read first time and referred to Committee on State Affairs;   April 14, 2025, reported favorably by the following vote:  Yeas 8,   Nays 0; April 14, 2025, sent to printer.)Click here to see the committee vote     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.     * * * * *