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HB 4244

Administrative procedure: other; references to the Gulf of Mexico; require to be the Gulf of America. Creates new act.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Greg Alexander and 11 co-sponsors

Michigan state government bodies must replace 'Gulf of Mexico' with 'Gulf of America' in all materials by July 4, 2025.

referred to Committee on Rules
#administrativeprocedure:other
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 4244

Summary: House Bill 4244 (Michigan) – Rename “Gulf of Mexico” to “Gulf of America” in State Government Usage

Purpose and intent

HB 4244 seeks to require Michigan state government entities to replace any use of the term “Gulf of Mexico” with the term “Gulf of America.” The bill creates a new act to formalize this change across public bodies and to ensure compliance by a specified deadline.

What the bill would do (Key provisions)

  • Create a new act governing terminology used by public bodies (state departments, boards, commissions, offices, agencies, and other state government units).
  • Section 3: If a public body uses the term “Gulf of Mexico,” it must modify the usage to “Gulf of America.”
  • Compliance deadline: Not later than July 4, 2025.
  • Section 1 (Summary provision): Public bodies shall comply with the requirement by the July 4, 2025 deadline.
  • Section 5: Defines “public body” to include departments, boards, commissions, offices, agencies, or other units of state government.

Who would be affected

  • All units of state government in Michigan, including departments, boards, commissions, offices, agencies, and other state governmental units that currently refer to the “Gulf of Mexico” in official materials, documents, maps, forms, signage, publications, or electronic resources.

Timeline and procedural context

  • Introduced: March 18, 2025 (sponsor: Rep. Matt Maddock; several co-sponsors listed).
  • Early actions: Referred to Committee on Government Operations.
  • Subsequent actions (as tracked in reformulated actions): Read a first time in March 2025; referred to Environmental Regulation and later to Committee on Rules; report from committee with recommendation (without amendment) on April 24, 2025; further readings and referrals proceeding through May 2025.
  • Status: Referred to Committee on Rules (status note indicates committee stage as of mid-2025).

Background and context

  • The bill appears to codify a federal renaming that was prompted by Executive Order 14172 (January 20, 2025), which directed renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America and called for updates to federal geographic data systems (GNIS).
  • The Michigan bill aligns state terminology with that federal action and formalizes the change within state law.

Fiscal impact

  • Official analyses indicate no significant impact on state or local units of government.
  • Possible minimal costs to update documents, maps, printed materials, and other official resources to reflect the new terminology.

Potential implications and considerations

  • Administrative burden to review and update existing materials across all state agencies.
  • Possible inconsistencies between state usage and federally maintained geographic databases (GNIS) or other jurisdictions.
  • The new deadline is tight (summer 2025) and could require rapid policy and document revision across multiple agencies.

Note: Some dates in the provided materials show minor variances (e.g., introduction date vs. committee actions). This summary reflects the core substance and the most consistently reported elements.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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