Government Digest: April 23 - April 29

Drilling bill draft waits until next year
TALLAHASSEE — A 41-page draft bill laying out how the state might manage oil and gas development in state waters will wait for action at least until next year. Accompanied by a 35-page bill analysis, the legislation won't be taken up by the Senate this session. Instead, the House Select Policy Council on Strategic and Economic Planning submitted the bill and analysis to the office of Speaker Larry Cretul, R-Ocala, as part of a package of materials from 10 hearings and 26 hours of testimony and discussion.