Florida lawmakers have debated fracking regulations for years, but a new bill would end the debate and has Republican and Democratic support.

A bipartisan group of lawmakers in Florida have proposed legislation to ban fracking in the state.

Republicans across the United States have largely embraced fracking, a popular method for stimulating a well to extract hard-to-access oil and gas reserves. With this new bill, filed to the Senate last week by Republican Sen. Dana Young, Florida is bucking the trend. Another Republican legislator has filed a companion bill in the state House of Representatives.

Fracking is technically legal under current laws in Florida, but isn't yet happening. This is largely because there are no specific rules for how it should be done. Officials in recent years have repeatedly attempted to establish such regulations.

At the same time, public opposition to fracking has grown. More than 70 counties and cities across the state have passed local ordinances prohibiting the process or supporting a state ban. Environmentalists, communities and local officials are primarily concerned that future fracking activities could threaten the state's precious freshwater sources.

"Our aquifer, which is a main source of fresh water for us, runs across the state and knows no county line," Young said in a statement. "I believe we must act quickly and decisively to protect our fragile environment from incompatible well stimulation practices in our state. The wellbeing of our environment is something that all Floridians care about which is why you'll find my bill to ban fracking in Florida has bipartisan support in both chambers." Young represents a west Florida district that includes the city of Tampa, one of the biggest cities in the state to endorse a statewide fracking ban.