HB 1205- Relating to the Regulation of Oil and Gas Resources
On Tuesday, April 14th, HB 1205, relating to the Regulation of Oil and Gas Resources, by Rep. Ray Rodrigues (R-Fort Myers) passed through the House State Affairs Committee with 12 yeas and 5 nays.

This bill makes many revisions to the Oil and Gas Program to make this program safer and more effective for all involved. 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.

HB 1205 will now head to the House floor for a vote. AIF’s Senior Vice President of State and Federal Affairs, Brewster Bevis, stood 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.

On Tuesday AIF’s Brewster Bevis released this statement:

AIF Thanks Members of House State Affairs Committee for
Advancing Legislation to Better Regulate Onshore Oil & Gas Production

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, thanking lawmakers on the House State Affairs Committee for advancing House Bill 1205, relating to the regulation of onshore oil and gas resources.

“We thank Representative Rodrigues for bringing this good bill forward and also thank the members of the House State Affairs Committee for considering it today.  This session, AIF, through its Florida Mineral Rights Working Group, is supporting this legislation, as well as similar legislation by Senator Richter, because the onshore oil and gas industry has successfully operated in Florida for more than seven decades, delivering jobs and capital to our state, but now needs the regulatory certainty this public policy provides.

“And, while we remain concerned about the inclusion of a study in HB 1205, we thank the members of this committee for advancing the bill today, as it provides for the type of certainty this industry needs, in order to continue to grow and prosper.”

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

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SB 1468- Relating to Regulation of Oil and Gas Resources
On Tuesday, April 14th, SB 1468, relating to the Regulation of Oil and Gas Resources, by Senator Garrett Richter (R-Naples) unanimously passed through the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government with 6 yeas and 0 nays. 

SB 1468 is the Senate companion bill to HB 1205. While the House bill has passed through all of its committee stops and is heading to the House floor for a vote, SB 1468 has one committee stop left in the Senate Appropriations Committee. 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’s Brewster Bevis also released a statement regarding SB 1468:

AIF Thanks Members of Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government for Passing Legislation Governing Onshore Oil & Gas Activities

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, thanking lawmakers on the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government for passing Senate Bill 1468, relating to the regulation of onshore oil and gas resources.

“This legislation by Senator Richter is essential to providing the certainty needed for the onshore oil and gas industry to continue to grow and be successful in the Sunshine State.  SB 1468, if adopted by the legislature this session, would not only provide a clear regulatory framework that will govern all oil and gas activities in the state, including adding an additional layer of oversight to newer work-over procedures, it will also ensure the environment is protected.

“The onshore oil and gas industry has been operating in Florida since 1943 and in that time has provided needed jobs to Floridians and contributed capital to Florida’s economy; and with the fair passage of this legislation, the industry can look forward to continuing that terrific track record and positively impacting Florida’s economy.

“With that said, AIF is concerned with the study that has been amended onto the bill and will work with members to resolve our concerns, as we feel this could be a deterrent to current and future businesses interested in bringing jobs and capital to our state through oil production activities.”

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

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