HB 1205- Relating to the Regulation of Oil and Gas Resources
On Tuesday, March 17th, HB 1205, relating to the Regulation of Oil and Gas Resources, by Rep. Ray Rodrigues (R-Fort Myers) passed through the House Agriculture & Natural Resources Subcommittee with 10 yeas and 2 nays.

The Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) Mining and Minerals Regulation Program in the Division of Water Resource Management (Division) oversees permitting for oil and gas drilling, production, and exploration within Florida through its Oil and Gas Program (Program). The Program’s primary responsibilities include conservation of oil and gas resources, correlative rights protection, maintenance of health and human safety, and environmental protection. This bill makes many revisions to the Oil and Gas Program to make this program safer and more effective for all involved. HB 1205 will now move on to its second stop in the House, the House Agriculture & Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee. AIF’s Senior Vice President of State and Federal Affairs, Brewster Bevis, spoke in support of this bill.

AIF supports the need to maintain appropriate permitting laws to protect the environment, to enhance efficiency between industry and the state, and to ensure appropriate standards are clearly communicated.

AIF sent out the following press release regarding the support of HB 1205:

AIF Applauds Lawmakers on House Agriculture & Natural Resources Subcommittee for Passage of House Bill 1205 

Tallahassee, Fla. – The Associated Industries of Florida (AIF) today released the following statement attributable to its Senior Vice President of State & Federal Affairs, Brewster Bevis, applauding lawmakers on the House Agriculture & Natural Resources Subcommittee for passing House Bill 1205, relating to the regulation of oil and gas resources.

“The onshore oil and gas industry needs and deserves certainty; and, this bill, HB 1205 by Representative Rodrigues, is a good first step in providing this sector of Florida’s economy with a proper, fair and consistent regulatory framework.”

“Through our Florida Mineral Rights Working Group, AIF will be advocating for legislation this session that ensures certainty for operators and mineral owners and which will not hinder their ability to grow within this industry space, and will also encourage other businesses to enter Florida.”

“We thank Representative Rodrigues and his fellow committee members for their consideration of this bill; and, look forward to working with members of the House and Senate in order to pass common-sense legislation that provides for the proper oversight of the oil and gas industry, while at the same time allowing for the growth of this industry which will add jobs and revenue to Florida’s bottom line.”

For more information on AIF, please visit AIF.com and follow @VoiceofFLBiz.

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