Title: Recognizing Judea and Samaria

Summary: Prohibits use of term "West Bank" in official government materials; prohibits use of moneys to create official government materials using such term; provides exception.

Full Text:
An act relating to recognizing Judea and Samaria; providing a short title; creating s. 1.016, F.S.; providing legislative intent; providing definitions; prohibiting the use of the term "West Bank" in official government materials; prohibiting the use of moneys to create official government materials using such term; providing an exception; providing an effective date. Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: Section 1. This act may be cited as the "Recognizing Judea and Samaria Act." Section 2. Section 1.016, Florida Statutes, is created to read: 1.016 Recognizing Judea and Samaria.-(1) LEGISLATIVE INTENT.-It is the inten tof the Legislature to: (a) Refer to the land annexed by Israel from Jordan during the 1967 Six-Day War by its historical name of "Judea and Samaria," with the land south of Jerusalem being considered "Judea" and the land north of Jerusalem being consid ered "Samaria." (b) No longer use the term "West Bank" in official HB 2026 hb31 FL OR I DA HO US EO FR EP RE SE NT A TI VE Sgovernment materials. (2) DEFINITIONS.-As used in this act, the term: (a) "Official government material" means a guidance, rule, material, briefing, press release, communication, or work product document prepared by a state agency. (b) "State agency" means every department, division, office, board, commission, and institution of this state. (3) PROHIBITIONS; EXCEPTION.-(a) A state agency may not use the term "West Bank" to refer to Judea and Samaria in an official government material or use moneys to create an official government material that refers to Judea and Samaria as "West Bank." (b) The head of a state agency may waive the prohibition under paragraph (a) if he or she de termines that it is in the best interest of this state and, within days after making such determination, submits a written explanation of the waiver to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.