(January 21, 2016, 1:27 PM EST) -- TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The Florida Senate on Jan. 20 was slated to consider a bill that would preempt existing laws related to oil and gas exploration such as hydraulic fracturing and would delete provisions in the state code that prohibit the Florida Division of Water Resource Management (DWRM) from granting drilling permits within the limits of a municipality without approval of the governing authority of that municipality.

(SB 318 available. Document #94-160209-004L.)

Legislation Proposed

Senate Bill (SB) 318, proposed by Republican Sen. Garrett Richter, would preempt...