Designation of the Official State Flagship

HB 559 redesignates the S.S. American Victory - a 455-foot historic steamship built in 1944 and currently operating as a maritime museum in Tampa - as Florida's official state flagship. The bill amends Florida Statutes to replace the previous designation with this vessel, recognizing its service in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. The change takes effect July 1, 2025, and directly affects the ship's ceremonial status as Florida's symbolic flagship. This is a procedural bill focused solely on naming, with no new policies or funding.