Mealey's (June 18, 2015, 11:15 AM EDT) -- AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas Senate on May 4 voted 24-7 to pass a bill that expressly preempts the authority of a municipality or other political subdivision to regulate oil and gas operations using hydraulic fracturing.

The Senate took up the vote after the bill passed the Texas House of Representatives on April 17.

The House passed House Bill 40 by a vote of 122-18.

The bill had been introduced to the House Committee on Energy Resources on March 11. The committee unanimously recommended passage on...