Despite opposition, Florida Senate panel OKs energy infrastructure preemption bill

Florida’s Legislature is cranking up the “preemption train” again with a bevy of Republican-sponsored bills seeking to dilute local authority, including proposals to prohibit cities and counties from regulating vacation rentals and seaports.

The Senate Regulated Industries Committee advanced two more preemption measures Tuesday, including one that would ban local governments from regulating “energy infrastructure,” including production and distribution of electricity, natural gas and petroleum products.