Drilling in the near areas off the Panhandle is not likely anytime soon, if ever, regardless of current legislation. More than half the area of the eastern Gulf is considered to be part of the Eglin test range, and the Department of Defense tends to be very picky and pokey about encroachment on their domain.
Considering the Pentagon's track record of taking 10+ years to give the go ahead for a county-run sewer plant that would actively serve the base, and a stated dislike of the idea of fixed oil structures in their territory, regardless of over or under water, and I could easily see them dragging out the process of getting permits for even exploration of the area for a really long time in hopes that the oil companies go away.
