Florida is inching closer to putting Donald Trump's name on one of its busiest airports. State lawmakers are advancing bills that would rename Palm Beach International Airport after the president, effectively taking that decision away from local officials and making it a state matter.

Senate Committee Gives Unanimous Green Light

On Tuesday, the Florida Senate transportation committee moved Senate Bill 706 forward without a single dissenting vote. All nine committee members backed the proposal to rebrand the airport as "Donald J. Trump International Airport," and notably, that includes three Democrats who crossed party lines to support it.

Sen. Debbie Mayfield (R-Fla.), who sponsored the legislation, celebrated the committee vote on X, framing the renaming as a way to honor what she called "the greatest president of our lifetime." A parallel effort is happening in the Florida House with House Bill 919, which is also making its way through the legislative process.

The Fine Print: FAA Sign-Off And Potential Costs

Before anyone starts printing new terminal signs, there's a catch. The committee amended the bill to require Federal Aviation Administration approval before any name change becomes official. That's a practical necessity, since the FAA manages airport identifiers and airspace designations nationwide.

There's also the matter of intellectual property. The proposal may require a rights agreement that would let the airport use Trump's name for branding, promotional materials, and merchandising without paying licensing fees.

Palm Beach County officials have raised some eyebrows about the practical implications. According to The Hill, they estimate a complete renaming would take between 18 and 24 months and run into the millions of dollars. Who foots that bill remains an open question. Officials also flagged another concern: a high-profile presidential name could make the airport a more attractive target for security threats.

The House committee is scheduled to take up the companion bill on Wednesday.

Trump Boulevard Already In Place

This isn't Palm Beach's first Trump naming rodeo. Last year, county officials unanimously voted to rename a four-mile section of Southern Boulevard as "President Donald J. Trump Boulevard." The stretch connects Palm Beach International Airport to Mar-a-Lago, Trump's private club and estate.

President Trump thanked officials at the time, calling it a "wonderful honor." That renaming came through GOP-backed legislation signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, with the state Department of Transportation tasked with installing the new signage. The same law also designated an adjacent stretch as "PBSO Motorman Highway" to honor three motorcycle deputies who were killed in November of the prior year.