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Florida House approves bill to use 'Judea and Samaria' instead of 'West Bank' in state materials
Summary
CS/HB 31 passed the Florida House after debate about historical naming and international diplomacy. Supporters argued for historical accuracy; opponents warned of diplomatic and educational consequences. Final vote: 92–14.
TALLAHASSEE — The Florida House approved CS/HB 31 on Feb. 11, a measure directing state agencies and educational materials to use the historical terms "Judea and Samaria" rather than the phrase "West Bank." The bill passed on a recorded vote of 92 yeas to 14 nays.
Representative Tremont, the bill sponsor, said the change is about historical accuracy and called the measure a correction of political rebranding. "We just want to acknowledge and teach the truth, because words matter," Tremont said on the floor.
Opponents said state law is not the proper vehicle for renaming foreign places and warned the change could complicate diplomatic norms and classroom materials. Representative Eskamani and others said the term "West Bank" is the internationally recognized phrase used in diplomacy and academic contexts, and urged caution about state-level interventions that differ from federal or international usage.
Supporters countered that the bill does not set foreign-policy or borders and instead restores historical nomenclature reflecting long-standing religious and archaeological ties, arguing it corrects what they described as an erasure of Jewish historical identity.
The House proceeded to structured debate under time limits and the bill passed on final reading with a clerk-reported tally of 92 yeas and 14 nays. The bill will move to the Senate for further consideration.
Ending: CS/HB 31 passed the House 92–14 and will be transmitted to the Senate. The bill generated a substantive floor debate that touched on education, international terminology and state messaging.
Quote: "This bill is simply 1 fold. We just want to acknowledge and teach the truth, because words matter." — Representative Tremont, bill sponsor.
