H.B. No. 2246 proposes a comprehensive update to Texas statutes by replacing all references to the "Gulf of Mexico" with "Gulf of America." This initiative, known as the "Gulf of America Statutory Language Initiative," aims to modernize legal terminology and ensure consistency across various codes, including the Government Code, Agriculture Code, Alcoholic Beverage Code, and more. The bill mandates that state agencies and the Texas Legislative Council adopt this new terminology in all relevant statutes and official documents, reflecting a significant shift in how the state refers to this geographical feature.

The bill also includes specific provisions that address various aspects of governance and regulation related to the Gulf of America. It outlines the management of coastal resources, public safety on beaches, and the authority of local governments in relation to land use and environmental protections. Additionally, it clarifies tax regulations for municipalities bordering the Gulf of America, allowing them to impose hotel occupancy taxes and manage water resources effectively. Overall, the bill seeks to enhance local governance, promote tourism, and ensure environmental protections while standardizing legal language across multiple areas of law.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Agriculture Code 47.051, Alcoholic Beverage Code 251.742, Civil Practice and Remedies Code 15.0181, Civil Practice and Remedies Code 18.033, Civil Practice and Remedies Code 21.021, Civil Practice and Remedies Code 78.052, Education Code 155.001, Education Code 155.003, Family Code 107.106, Government Code 1431.015, Government Code 1475.051, Government Code 1478.001, Government Code 1502.057, Government Code 1502.070, Government Code 1505.001, Government Code 1505.053, Government Code 1505.102, Government Code 1505.201, Government Code 1506.101, Government Code 1505.251, Government Code 2204.301, Health and Safety Code 341.03571, Health and Safety Code 361.121, Health and Safety Code 361.122, Health and Safety Code 365.003, Health and Safety Code 366.012, Health and Safety Code 711.008, Health and Safety Code 773.1141, Health and Safety Code 775.021, Local Government Code 42.021, Local Government Code 42.0235, Local Government Code 43.017, Local Government Code 43.0751, Local Government Code 43.082, Local Government Code 43.902, Local Government Code 85.004, Local Government Code 118.026, Local Government Code 152.032, Local Government Code 233.001, Local Government Code 240.901, Local Government Code 240.902, Local Government Code 240.909, Local Government Code 240.910, Local Government Code 253.001, Local Government Code 254.001, Local Government Code 306.032, Local Government Code 307.001, Local Government Code 307.002, Local Government Code 307.021, Local Government Code 307.042, Local Government Code 321.001, Local Government Code 321.101, Local Government Code 351.081, Local Government Code 351.083, Local Government Code 351.084, Local Government Code 375.182, Local Government Code 382.002, Local Government Code 501.103, Local Government Code 501.163, Local Government Code 561.007, Local Government Code 561.008, Local Government Code 571.001, Natural Resources Code 11.0111, Natural Resources Code 11.012, Natural Resources Code 11.013, Natural Resources Code 11.041, Natural Resources Code 32.066, Natural Resources Code 32.067, Natural Resources Code 33.004, Natural Resources Code 33.203, Natural Resources Code 33.233, Natural Resources Code 33.607, Natural Resources Code 33.613, Natural Resources Code 33.651, Natural Resources Code 33.656, Natural Resources Code 40.003, Natural Resources Code 51.291, Natural Resources Code 52.011, Natural Resources Code 52.297, Natural Resources Code 52.321, Natural Resources Code 53.011, Natural Resources Code 53.151, Natural Resources Code 53.155, Natural Resources Code 53.161, Natural Resources Code 61.001, Natural Resources Code 61.021, Natural Resources Code 61.012, Natural Resources Code 61.013, Natural Resources Code 61.022, Natural Resources Code 61.023, Natural Resources Code 61.025, Natural Resources Code 61.062, Natural Resources Code 61.064, Natural Resources Code 61.065, Natural Resources Code 61.066, Natural Resources Code 61.078, Natural Resources Code 61.080, Natural Resources Code 61.083, Natural Resources Code 61.122, Natural Resources Code 61.132, Natural Resources Code 61.161, Natural Resources Code 61.162, Natural Resources Code 61.211, Natural Resources Code 61.213, Natural Resources Code 61.223, Natural Resources Code 61.224, Natural Resources Code 61.252, Natural Resources Code 62.001, Natural Resources Code 62.011, Natural Resources Code 62.091, Natural Resources Code 63.001, Natural Resources Code 63.002, Natural Resources Code 63.011, Natural Resources Code 63.012, Natural Resources Code 92.002, Occupations Code 2025.152, Property Code 5.008, Property Code 204.002, Parks and Wildlife Code 1.011, Parks and Wildlife Code 13.023, Parks and Wildlife Code 13.314, Parks and Wildlife Code 21.111, Parks and Wildlife Code 43.402, Parks and Wildlife Code 46.001, Parks and Wildlife Code 47.001, Parks and Wildlife Code 47.038, Parks and Wildlife Code 62.0061, Parks and Wildlife Code 66.015, Parks and Wildlife Code 66.204, Parks and Wildlife Code 66.301, Parks and Wildlife Code 77.001, Parks and Wildlife Code 77.072, Parks and Wildlife Code 77.061, Parks and Wildlife Code 86.0151, Parks and Wildlife Code 86.0152, Parks and Wildlife Code 91.008, Transportation Code 52.002, Transportation Code 54.001, Transportation Code 61.002, Transportation Code 61.006, Transportation Code 62.024, Transportation Code 66.002, Transportation Code 67.002, Transportation Code 68.002, Transportation Code 69.002, Transportation Code 69.064, Transportation Code 70.002, Transportation Code 283.001, Transportation Code 283.002, Transportation Code 284.002, Transportation Code 341.002, Transportation Code 342.001, Transportation Code 463.002, Transportation Code 551.404, Transportation Code 623.210, Transportation Code 623.212, Transportation Code 623.406, Transportation Code 644.101, Transportation Code 729.001, Transportation Code 750.002, Tax Code 11.271, Tax Code 31.03, Tax Code 41.44, Tax Code 156.2512, Tax Code 156.252, Tax Code 321.101, Tax Code 351.001, Tax Code 351.003, Tax Code 351.102, Tax Code 351.1055, Tax Code 351.1066, Tax Code 351.107, Tax Code 351.10713, Tax Code 351.152, Tax Code 352.002, Tax Code 352.003, Tax Code 352.1033, Utilities Code 39.9016, Water Code 11.002, Water Code 11.021, Water Code 11.023, Water Code 11.050, Water Code 11.0871, Water Code 11.1405, Water Code 11.142, Water Code 11.1421, Water Code 11.3271, Water Code 16.053, Water Code 16.321, Water Code 18.001, Water Code 18.003, Water Code 18.005, Water Code 26.001, Water Code 26.0272, Water Code 26.044, Water Code 27.040, Water Code 28.001, Water Code 31.001, Water Code 36.001, Water Code 49.2127, Water Code 49.502, Water Code 54.235, Water Code 60.039, Water Code 61.151, Water Code 63.156, Water Code 63.157 (Parks and Wildlife Code 43, Transportation Code 644, Local Government Code 118, Parks and Wildlife Code 13, Local Government Code 152, Transportation Code 283, Natural Resources Code 11, Water Code 61, Government Code 2204, Local Government Code 233, Civil Practice and Remedies Code 18, Health and Safety Code 773, Parks and Wildlife Code 66, Transportation Code 69, Transportation Code 284, Local Government Code 501, Civil Practice and Remedies Code 78, Transportation Code 729, Water Code 31, Local Government Code 321, Natural Resources Code 52, Transportation Code 62, Tax Code 351, Water Code 60, Health and Safety Code 341, Local Government Code 254, Water Code 11, Health and Safety Code 361, Utilities Code 39, Tax Code 352, Transportation Code 68, Parks and Wildlife Code 86, Natural Resources Code 33, Parks and Wildlife Code 62, Water Code 16, Local Government Code 307, Water Code 54, Local Government Code 561, Local Government Code 375, Tax Code 156, Natural Resources Code 40, Education Code 155, Local Government Code 306, Government Code 1478, Local Government Code 43, Family Code 107, Transportation Code 52, Transportation Code 750, Water Code 18, Occupations Code 2025, Transportation Code 70, Water Code 27, Parks and Wildlife Code 46, Local Government Code 351, Natural Resources Code 63, Water Code 63, Local Government Code 382, Transportation Code 341, Water Code 26, Health and Safety Code 366, Parks and Wildlife Code 91, Tax Code 11, Transportation Code 342, Government Code 1505, Government Code 1475, Parks and Wildlife Code 1, Natural Resources Code 92, Property Code 5, Parks and Wildlife Code 21, Alcoholic Beverage Code 251, Government Code 1502, Natural Resources Code 32, Tax Code 321, Health and Safety Code 365, Civil Practice and Remedies Code 21, Parks and Wildlife Code 77, Natural Resources Code 53, Local Government Code 571, Transportation Code 463, Natural Resources Code 61, Health and Safety Code 711, Agriculture Code 47, Government Code 1431, Transportation Code 623, Water Code 36, Government Code 1506, Local Government Code 85, Tax Code 41, Transportation Code 61, Property Code 204, Transportation Code 66, Natural Resources Code 51, Transportation Code 551, Civil Practice and Remedies Code 15, Transportation Code 54, Water Code 49, Local Government Code 42, Transportation Code 67, Parks and Wildlife Code 47, Local Government Code 240, Local Government Code 253, Health and Safety Code 775, Tax Code 31, Water Code 28, Natural Resources Code 62)