From the Associated Press on Monday:

Local governments wouldn't be able to ban fracking under a bill the Florida House passed.

The House voted 82-34 for the bill Monday. It calls for a study of hydraulic fracturing and regulation of the drilling practice.

Democrats opposed the bill, saying fracking should be banned in Florida because of the potential to contaminate groundwater.

Fracking is the process of shooting a mix of water, sand and chemicals at high pressure into underground rock formations in an effort to fracture the rock and release oil and gas trapped inside.

Republicans argued that there's nothing in law to regulate fracking now, and the bill would establish oversight over it.

Many local governments around the country have banned the practice. The bill would prevent that in Florida.