TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (VINnews) — The Florida House on Thursday approved a bill that would require public schools, charter schools and state agencies to replace the term “West Bank” with “Judea and Samaria” in official materials and communications.

The measure (HB 31) passed by a 92-14 vote with bipartisan support. It is sponsored by Democratic Rep. Debra Tendrich of Lake Worth and Republican Rep. Chase Tramont of Port Orange.

Under the proposal, state entities would discontinue references to the West Bank — the term widely used by the U.S. government and much of the international community — and instead use “Judea and Samaria,” the biblical names for the territory and the terminology used by the Israeli government.

Approximately 3 million Palestinians and about 500,000 Israeli settlers live in the territory, which Israel captured during the 1967 Middle East war. The international community generally does not recognize Israeli sovereignty over the area.

Supporters said the legislation restores historical terminology and counters what they described as political rebranding that diminishes Jewish ties to the land.

Opponents said the bill inserts the state into a sensitive international issue and departs from language used in diplomacy and international law.

A House bill analysis said any fiscal impact would depend on how extensively future instructional and administrative materials include the term being replaced.

Similar legislation has been introduced in other Republican-leaning states, including Alabama, Tennessee and Oklahoma.

A companion measure in the Florida Senate, sponsored by Republican Sen. Ralph Massullo of Lecanto, has advanced through committee and awaits further consideration.