Texas 2025 89th Regular

Texas Senate Bill SJR63 Analysis / Analysis

Filed 04/11/2025

                    BILL ANALYSIS        Senate Research Center   C.S.S.J.R. 63     89R22965 JCG-F   By: Middleton         State Affairs         4/11/2025         Committee Report (Substituted)          AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT   On January 20, 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order officially renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, declaring the region "an integral asset to our once burgeoning Nation and an indelible part of America." In response, S.J.R. 63 seeks to align the Texas Constitution with this federal directive by updating all references to the "Gulf of Mexico" to now read the "Gulf of America."    This resolution ensures Texas law reflects the new federal terminology and reinforces the state's recognition of the region's national importance. By adopting consistent language throughout the Texas Constitution, S.J.R 63 supports state-federal alignment.   (Original Author's/Sponsor's Statement of Intent)   C.S.S.J.R. 63 proposes a constitutional amendment regarding the terminology used in the Texas Constitution to refer to the partially landlocked body of water on the southeastern periphery of the North American continent.   RULEMAKING AUTHORITY   This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.   SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS   SECTION 1. Amends Section 33(a), Article I, Texas Constitution, to change references to "Gulf of Mexico" to "Gulf of America."   SECTION 2. Amends Section 1-i, Article VIII, Texas Constitution, to make conforming changes.   SECTION 3. Amends Section 1-A, Article IX, Texas Constitution, to make a conforming change.   SECTION 4. Amends Section 7(a), Article XI, Texas Constitution, to make a conforming change.   SECTION 5. Requires that the proposed constitutional amendment be submitted to the voters at an election to be held on November 4, 2025. Sets forth the required language of the ballot.

BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center C.S.S.J.R. 63
89R22965 JCG-F By: Middleton
 State Affairs
 4/11/2025
 Committee Report (Substituted)



Senate Research Center

C.S.S.J.R. 63

89R22965 JCG-F

By: Middleton

State Affairs

4/11/2025

Committee Report (Substituted)

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

On January 20, 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order officially renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, declaring the region "an integral asset to our once burgeoning Nation and an indelible part of America." In response, S.J.R. 63 seeks to align the Texas Constitution with this federal directive by updating all references to the "Gulf of Mexico" to now read the "Gulf of America."

This resolution ensures Texas law reflects the new federal terminology and reinforces the state's recognition of the region's national importance. By adopting consistent language throughout the Texas Constitution, S.J.R 63 supports state-federal alignment.

(Original Author's/Sponsor's Statement of Intent)

C.S.S.J.R. 63 proposes a constitutional amendment regarding the terminology used in the Texas Constitution to refer to the partially landlocked body of water on the southeastern periphery of the North American continent.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 33(a), Article I, Texas Constitution, to change references to "Gulf of Mexico" to "Gulf of America."

SECTION 2. Amends Section 1-i, Article VIII, Texas Constitution, to make conforming changes.

SECTION 3. Amends Section 1-A, Article IX, Texas Constitution, to make a conforming change.

SECTION 4. Amends Section 7(a), Article XI, Texas Constitution, to make a conforming change.

SECTION 5. Requires that the proposed constitutional amendment be submitted to the voters at an election to be held on November 4, 2025. Sets forth the required language of the ballot.