Florida House Bill to Use ‘Judea and Samaria’ Heads to Floor as Senate Companion Advances

Sponsors cast the shift as historical accuracy despite warnings of federal conflicts.

Overview

HB 31 cleared the House State Affairs Committee on a 20-4 vote and now awaits a floor hearing, while SB 1106 moves next to the Senate Judiciary Committee.
The measures would replace references to the West Bank in state records and require new public‑school instructional materials and library collections adopted on or after July 1 to use “Judea and Samaria.”
Co-prime sponsors Rep. Chase Tramont, a Republican, and Rep. Debra Tendrich, a Democrat, say the change affirms Jewish historical ties and will be phased in without new costs.
Emgage Action and Democratic lawmakers, including Reps. Angie Nixon and Anna Eskamani, argue the proposal risks erasing Palestinian identity and could conflict with federal naming standards and passport designations.
Coverage notes that the U.S. government and international community use “West Bank” and do not recognize Israeli sovereignty there, with roughly 3 million Palestinians and about 500,000 Jewish settlers living in the territory.