Committee approves strike-all to replace 'West Bank' with 'Judea and Samaria' in state materials

The Senate Governmental Oversight and Accountability Committee advanced a strike-all to SB 1106 that would direct Florida state agencies, public schools and charter schools, and certain instructional and library materials adopted after July 1, 2026, to use the terms “Judea” and “Samaria” instead of the internationally recognized term “West Bank.” The amendment would also prohibit state funds from being used to produce materials that use "West Bank."

Sponsor Senator Mazzullo framed the measure as a historical-correctness and educational step: "The compelling state interest is the truth of the historical facts," the sponsor said, asserting the change would help students understand geography and history.

Opponents told the committee the change would import a foreign political dispute into state law and could have tangible harms. Adam Ubunta (Mgauge Action Florida) said the bill would "ban the use of an internationally recognized term, West Bank," force agencies and schools to change federal-place-of-birth references and risk singling out Palestinian Americans; he urged a no vote, saying the measure "is not neutrality. It is government imposed speech."

Sponsor Mazzullo said the proposal would not alter federal documents and defended the bill as historical accuracy intended to recognize Jewish ties to territory "liberated by Israel during the 1967 ... war." After debate and a recorded roll call the committee reported the substitute favorably.

What’s next: The committee-reported substitute for SB 1106 will proceed in the Senate process.