Latest news with #DavidStandridge
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Bill directing Alabama agencies to use ‘Gulf of America' dies in state senate
ALABAMA (WHNT) — A bill requiring Alabama to refer to the Gulf of Mexico as the 'Gulf of America' died in a Senate committee Tuesday. The bill's sponsor, Rep. David Standridge, filed the bill in support of the president's Executive Order renaming the Gulf. In a meeting of the Alabama Senate's County and Municipal Government Committee, Standridge said he wanted to provide guidance to state and local agencies. Who is running for governor of Alabama in 2026? 'For our state purposes, you have to buy materials,' Standridge said. 'We have to buy reference materials, maps, things like that, and I think that it's just important that we give them direction on what they buy.' Several democratic senators questioned the proposal. Sen. Kirk Hatcher called the legislation a 'cultural distraction,' and Sen. Linda Coleman-Madison pointed out the Gulf's longstanding name has historical significance. 'I would hope somebody went back and looked at the history of why it's named the Gulf of Mexico,' Coleman-Madison said. 'Again, we're changing history.' A final question from Sen. Merika Coleman highlighted uncertainty about the bill's price tag. Standridge responded, saying the total cost was unknown. He went on to say that his bill would not require agencies to immediately update their materials if doing so would create a financial committee's vote ended in a tie, which means the bill will not advance. Similar legislation has progressed in Florida and Texas. Louisiana's governor signed an order requiring all state documents to use the term Gulf of America. The bill could technically be reintroduced in Alabama, but the four legislative days left in the session leave little time for it to pass this year. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Bill to rename Gulf of Mexico ‘Gulf of America' fails in Alabama Senate committee
Rep. David Standridge, R-Hayden, points on the floor of the Alabama House of Representatives on April 30, 2024 at the Alabama Statehouse in Montgomery, Alabama. (Brian Lyman/Alabama Reflector) A bill that would have required Alabama to refer to the Gulf of Mexico as the 'Gulf of America' fail to pass an Alabama Senate committee Tuesday. HB 247, sponsored by Rep. David Standridge, R-Hayden and called the Gulf of America Act, would have required all state and local entities and their employees to refer to the body of water as the 'Gulf of America,' following President Donald Trump's preference. 'We know the president did an executive order changing the name, and all the federal agencies are using that they've officially adopted, that the federal agencies have also since that time,' Standridge said to the committee, adding that some states have moved to change the name. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The legislation, which passed the House on April 18, would have also mandated that reasonable efforts be made to update pre-existing resources, unless it imposes an operational or financial burden on the entities. An exception allowed the term 'Gulf of Mexico' to be used in academic instruction for historical purposes in public K-12 schools and institutions of higher education. Democratic senators on the committee asked about the cost of implementing the name change. Senator Merika Coleman, D-Pleasant Grove, said the bill's fiscal note states it would increase 'administrative obligations' of state and local governments, but it does not state the amount. 'We're supposed to be good stewards of the taxpayers' dollars. So, do we have any idea how much of this is going to cost the taxpayers?' Coleman asked. Standridge said 'that is unknown' because the bill provides an exception if it would 'impose an operational or financial burden' on state and local government. The committee deadlocked on whether to report the bill on a 4-4 tie, effectively killing it. In response to the bill and President Donald Trump's executive order, the National Maritime Museum of the Gulf of Mexico plans to change its name to the National Maritime Museum of the Gulf. The move was first reported by Lagniappe Daily. 'This change reflects the museum's commitment to celebrating the rich history, ecology, and economic impact of this incredible body of water. Known by many names throughout its history, the Gulf has played a profound role in shaping the economy and culture of Mobile and other coastal communities from Texas to Florida,' said Karen Poth, executive director, in a statement on Tuesday. The museum plans to implement the change in stages, according to Jason Johnson, a spokesperson for the Museum. Physical printed materials will be updated as new orders are placed, and digital platforms are in the process of being changed. While the name change is not expected to create new costs for the museum, updates to signage could cost approximately $40,000. There are currently no plans to update the name in existing or developing exhibits due to the extensive costs involved. Future exhibits will use 'Gulf of America,' and an additional exhibit will reflect the name change and the Gulf's historical names. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
