The Florida House of Representatives on Tuesday advanced a bill that would prohibit the use of the term "West Bank" in official government materials, recognizing the territory as Judea and Samaria.
Two almost identical bills, both called 'Recognizing Judea and Samaria Act,' have been introduced. One, CS/HB 31, was introduced in the Florida House and sponsored by Debra Tendrich and Chase Tramont, and a second, SB 1106, is the Senate companion bill introduced by Senator Ralph Massullo.
In state legislatures (like Florida’s), it is common for the same policy idea to be filed in both chambers, one as a House bill and one as a Senate bill, as it gives the proposal more chances to pass and essentially expedites the process.
As such, the House and Senate versions were drafted to match so that if both pass their chambers, one text can be agreed on in conference committee or through amendments.
Both bills aim to amend legislation to refer to the land as Judea and Samaria rather than “West Bank” in official materials. Such materials would include guidance, rules, documents, press releases, and the like.
The bill, if passed, will also prohibit spending to create official government materials that use the term "West Bank." It would come into effect on July 1, 2026.
Bill receives almost unanimous pro-votes
At the House Government Operations Subcommittee on Tuesday, the bill received 16 yes votes and 1 no, making it adopted.
The committee did make changes, removing a provision authorizing state agencies to use the term “West Bank” under specified conditions, and also removing the requirement for instructional material and library media center collections acquired on or after July 1, 2026, to use the terms “Judea and Samaria” and not the term “West Bank.”
It will now be considered and voted on at the State Affairs committee.
“The last thing you want to do is insult your constituency, and you want your trading partners to respect you,” said Tramont. “It’s hard to respect you if you dishonor their history.”
"Words matter, and as a history teacher, I think we should teach facts – not politically charged propaganda," Tramont added.
“Judea and Samaria are names that are 3,000 years old. The West Bank was just given to Jordan in 1950 after it had been occupied by Jordan for a while. And why was it given that name? Simply to erase Jewish history.”