The bill proposes to officially rename the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America throughout the Florida Statutes, reflecting a directive from President Donald J. Trump aimed at honoring American heritage. This change involves amending multiple sections of the Florida Statutes to replace references to the Gulf of Mexico with the Gulf of America, impacting various county boundary descriptions and related legal texts. The bill also includes provisions for concurrent jurisdiction among certain counties regarding offenses on Santa Rosa Sound and allows counties adjacent to the Gulf of America to allocate a portion of their tourist development tax revenue for public safety services related to tourism.

In addition to the name change, the bill introduces new regulations concerning coastal construction, mandating a setback of 50 feet from the mean high-water line along the Gulf of America and Atlantic coast shorelines. It emphasizes the importance of beach restoration and nourishment projects, requiring them to be funded in a cost-effective manner while protecting property rights of upland owners. The bill also clarifies definitions related to coastal management, enhances local government authority in coastal resource management, and establishes guidelines for the installation of wireless facilities. Overall, the legislation aims to strengthen the regulatory framework governing Florida's coastal and aquatic resources while aligning state law with federal directives.

Statutes affected:
S 608 Filed: 7.03, 7.08, 7.09, 7.11, 7.15, 7.17, 7.19, 7.23, 7.27, 7.29, 7.33, 7.36, 7.38, 7.41, 7.46, 7.51, 7.52, 7.55, 7.56, 7.62, 7.65, 7.66, 125.0104, 161.088, 161.141, 161.151, 161.161, 161.55, 206.9935, 253.03, 253.12, 253.783, 258.09, 258.395, 258.3991, 327.02, 327.60, 331.307, 373.019, 375.031, 376.25, 377.242, 377.2431, 379.101, 379.244, 379.248, 380.0555, 380.24