Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced on Friday evening that the state had returned millions of dollars in funding back to the federal government. DeSantis posted the news to social media, revealing a letter from his office to the U.S. Department of Treasury stating that Florida is returning $878,112,000 in taxpayer dollars back to the federal government as part of DOGE’s efforts.

The Florida House could move quickly to pass a controversial bill that would lower the minimum age to purchase rifles and other long guns from 21 to 18.

A Florida bill aimed at helping investigators catch hit-and-run drivers may also require cars in the state to have two license plates, according to News4JAX sister station WKMG.

One of the key aspects of SB 108 is its emphasis on increasing transparency in state licensing.

Highway speeds could increase under a bill that has started moving forward in the state Senate. The Republican-controlled Senate Transportation Committee on Wednesday approved a wide-ranging measure (SB 462), filed by Sen. Nick DiCeglie, R-Indian Rocks Beach, that includes boosting the maximum speed on interstates and Florida’s Turnpike from 70 mph to 75 mph.

Since the latest Florida Legislative session kicked off earlier this month, lawmakers have been busy discussing new bills and proposals for state law.

The first Black history museum to call Florida its home is closer to becoming a reality in St. Johns County.

Gun rights advocates have been fighting to overturn a Florida law setting the minimum age to buy a gun at 21 since the day the measure was signed, in the wake of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida in 2018.

An effort to impose stricter penalties on reckless boaters, spurred by a 2022 crash in the Florida Keys that resulted in the death of a 17-year-old girl, continued moving forward Wednesday in the Senate.

A Senate committee Tuesday approved a bill (SB 184) that would require cities and counties to allow adding what are technically known as accessory dwelling units — but are often known as granny flats — in single-family residential areas.

A key Senate panel on Monday approved a measure that would place a number of new restrictions on people and groups seeking to make changes to the state Constitution, the latest move in the Legislature’s years-long effort to curtail the ballot-initiative process.

House and Senate Republicans are proposing a constitutional amendment about eight-year term limits for county commissioners and school board members.

After fierce — and expensive — political battles last year about abortion rights and recreational marijuana, Florida lawmakers Thursday began moving forward with a proposal that would place additional restrictions on the ballot-initiative process.

After fierce — and expensive — political battles last year about abortion rights and recreational marijuana, Florida lawmakers Thursday began moving forward with a proposal that would place additional restrictions on the ballot-initiative process.

Jacksonville is rapidly gaining recognition as a popular tourist destination, with many visitors expressing a strong desire to return to the River City.

As the Florida Legislative session enters its third day, developments are unfolding with the introduction of bills targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies at the local government level.

Florida lawmakers are considering changing a decades-old law and clearing the way for more medical malpractice lawsuits over patient deaths.

Jacksonville Area Legal Aid President & CEO Jim Kowalski traveled to Tallahassee on Monday to urge Florida legislators to oppose SB 232. If passed, SB 232 would have limited the Florida Consumer Collection Practices Act (FCCPA) to debt collectors, leaving the door open for those who commit consumer fraud.

Gov. Ron DeSantis and other Republicans recently have floated the idea of eliminating or reducing local-government property taxes.

Florida lawmakers have officially kicked off their 2025 legislative session.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis will deliver the annual State of the State address on Tuesday morning.

Senator Randy Fine has introduced a bill for the 2025 Florida legislative session that would permit individuals under 21 to purchase firearms. Senate Bill 94, aims to repeal a law that currently prohibits licensed firearms dealers from selling or transferring firearms to those younger than 21.

A newly filed bill in the Florida Legislature, House Joint Resolution 1325, proposes eliminating the office of lieutenant governor and replacing it with a new Cabinet-level position: the commissioner of government efficiency.

Florida lawmakers next week will start the annual legislative session, which will include considering hundreds of bills. Here are 10 issues to watch during the 60-day session

Gov. Ron DeSantis is scheduled to hold a news conference at 9 a.m. Thursday at the Florida Capitol.

Governor Ron DeSantis will hold a news conference Wednesday afternoon from the Florida Capitol.

A Florida man has been charged with two counts of attempted murder after opening fire on two men in Miami Beach who he thought were Palestinians.

Governor Ron DeSantis held a news conference Thursday afternoon in Tallahassee to sign new legislation aimed at strengthening illegal immigration enforcement.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Friday is set to hold a news conference with Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Director Dave Kerner in Tallahassee.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Friday is set to hold a news conference with Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Director Dave Kerner in Tallahassee.

Thanks to ADS-B technology, anyone can track commercial, private, and some military flights in the country using FlightRadar24. However, aviation experts told News4JAX that it is not required or used by all military aircraft.

Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday announced a proposed $115.6 billion budget for the 2025-2026 fiscal year that calls for increasing pay for state law-enforcement officers and firefighters, eliminating a commercial-lease tax and holding a new sales-tax “holiday” on guns and ammunition.

Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday announced a proposed $115.6 billion budget for the 2025-2026 fiscal year that calls for increasing pay for state law-enforcement officers and firefighters, eliminating a commercial-lease tax and holding a new sales-tax “holiday” on guns and ammunition.

President Donald Trump-endorsed candidates Jimmy Patronis and Randy Fine won their Republican primaries in the special elections to replace former Florida Reps. Matt Gaetz and Mike Waltz, notching wins in reliably conservative districts.

The 5th Annual Florida “RUN FOR THE FALLEN” is scheduled to take place from Friday, February 7, 2025, to Sunday, February 9, 2025. This event honors fallen soldiers by running from the Florida State Capitol in Tallahassee to the Veterans Memorial in Jacksonville, covering a total distance of 170 miles over three days.

Republican lawmakers Sunday filed a flurry of bills to crack down on undocumented immigrants and place additional restrictions on the ballot initiative process.

On the eve of a special legislative session called by Gov. Ron DeSantis, Republican lawmakers Sunday filed a flurry of bills to crack down on undocumented immigrants and place additional restrictions on the ballot initiative process.

Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody will take Marco Rubio’s seat in the U.S. Senate.

A Florida state lawmaker has filed a bill that would ban some of the state’s public colleges and universities from admitting students who are in the country without legal permission.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is calling state lawmakers into a special session to help carry out President-elect Donald Trump’s promises for a swift crackdown on immigration.

Governor Ron DeSantis will hold a news conference from the Florida Capitol on Monday morning.

Governor Ron DeSantis will hold a news conference from the Florida Capitol on Monday morning.

Florida's 2025 Legislative Session is less than two months away, but lawmakers have already been busy filing new bills.

Florida's 2025 Legislative Session is less than two months away, but lawmakers have already been busy filing new bills.

A statewide grand jury convened at the request of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has found no evidence of criminal activity concerning COVID-19 vaccines.

With 2024 soon coming to a close, it’s important to take a look at all of the bills that made it into law during this year’s Legislative Session.

A Florida state senator introduced a bill Monday aimed at preventing flags representing political viewpoints, race, sexual orientation, gender, and more from being displayed at public schools, colleges, universities, and government buildings.

Florida authorities say they're pursuing a criminal case against a man accused of trying to assassinate President-elect Donald Trump for a car crash that occurred after his arrest.

On Jan. 1, 2025, nine new Florida laws are set to go into effect.

Baker Mayfield is hoping the NCAA doesn’t outlaw flag planting.

Florida headed to Tallahassee for its season-ending rivalry game against Florida State and came home with a 31-11 romp. News4JAX photographer Jacob Simons captured the game in this photo gallery.

It was flag day in college football.

State senators are off to a quick start filing bills as they gear up for the 2025 legislative session, which begins March 4.

Thanksgiving marks the start of the busiest holiday travel season, often involving visits to family and friends or the enjoyment of a relaxing vacation, which can lead to an increase in accidents on the roadways.

Florida Rep. Debbie Mayfield has announced her candidacy for Florida Senate District 19, a seat she previously held before reaching the state’s term limits.

Governor Ron DeSantis announced a 17-day extension to Florida’s 2024 Gulf Red Snapper recreational fishing season, allowing families and visitors additional opportunities to fish during the holiday season.

Florida education leaders want parents to be reminded annually that they can face consequences if their children report false threats of violence.

On Friday, the Florida Department of Education announced the winners of its 2nd Annual Cybersecurity Competition, an event held in partnership with the Florida College System and Tallahassee State College, where the contest took place.

A 57-year-old Jacksonville man won $2 million from a 100X Bonus Cashword scratch-off game, according to the Florida Lottery.

A lawsuit filed this week by the prison reform advocacy group Florida Justice Institute says that extreme heat in unairconditioned cells at a prison near the Florida Everglades has contributed to the deaths of four people and that state officials have failed to take “meaningful action” to mitigate the risk posed to the elderly and disabled inmates in their care.

The winner claimed her prize at the lottery’s headquarters in Tallahassee, where she opted for a one-time lump sum payout of $640,000.

Damages to farmers and ranchers from Hurricane Milton may double the statewide agricultural destruction from three other storms that pummeled Florida since August 2023, according to state Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Wilton Simpson.

Governor Ron DeSantis urged Floridians to prepare ahead of Tropical Storm Milton, which is forecast to become a major hurricane by the time it makes landfall on Florida’s west coast.

A historic ocean liner that once ferried immigrants, Hollywood stars and heads of state may soon find its final resting place at the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico, after a Florida county inked a tentative deal to turn the ship into the world’s largest artificial reef.

Florida could face paying nearly $750,000 in legal fees for businesses that successfully challenged part of a 2022 law that Gov. Ron DeSantis dubbed the “Stop WOKE Act.”

More than 200,000 Floridians were still without power Sunday morning after Hurricane Helene, according to Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Governor Ron DeSantis will hold a news conference in Tallahassee on Friday, Sept. 27 at 9 a.m.

Governor Ron DeSantis will hold a news conference in Tallahassee on Friday, Sept. 27 at 9 a.m.

Hurricane Helene has made landfall in northwestern Florida as a Category 4 storm as forecasters warn of “catastrophic” flooding along the Gulf Coast.

Fast-moving Hurricane Helene is advancing across the Gulf of Mexico toward Florida.

Forecasters are warning that Hurricane Helene will intensify into a major storm before striking Florida and further inland as it heads northward across the Gulf of Mexico.

Gov. Ron DeSantis will hold a news conference Tuesday at the Emergency Operations Center in Tallahassee to provide an update on what is expected to become Hurricane Helene.

Ja’Khi Douglas had a 36-yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter and Florida State defeated Cal 14-9 on Saturday in the Bears’ first Atlantic Coast Conference game.

Seth Henigan threw for 272 yards and two touchdowns — the 40th straight game he has tossed a TD pass — as Memphis beat Florida State 20-12 on Saturday.

Florida State has asked a judge to decide key parts of its lawsuit against the Atlantic Coast Conference without a trial, hoping for a quicker resolution and path to a possible exit from the league.

Treshaun Ward totaled 138 offensive yards, including a 13-yard touchdown reception, against his former team as Boston College stunned No. 10 Florida State 28-13.

Key West, Fort Lauderdale and Wilton Manors are among several Florida cities that have long been top U.S. destinations for LGBTQ+ tourists.

A national overhaul of the Next Generation Weather Radar (NEXRAD) network has been completed to extend the life of the country's 159 radars including one in Jacksonville.

Florida state officials say some counties had difficulty reporting primary election results to the public because of an unspecified glitch involving a vendor.

Today, Commissioner of Education Manny Diaz, Jr. announced the Florida Department of Education Model Policy for the Volunteer School Chaplain Program.

A Jacksonville Today reader, Frank N., wants to know if the Jack in the Box fast food restaurant plans to bring a location to Northeast Florida.

Republican Paul Renner, who was first elected to the Florida House in 2015, can’t seek re-election due to term limits, so the seat is open this year.

Gov. Ron DeSantis warned of flooding statewide from Tropical Storm Debby, which is expected to make landfall as a hurricane Monday in the Big Bend region close to Tallahassee.

Millions of children are going without extra food on the table this summer, after 13 states said no to joining a federal program that helps families in need buy groceries.

Changes will be coming to Florida driver’s licenses starting on July 31, according to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.

Florida A&M University President Larry Robinson announced Friday he will step down after nearly seven years leading the state’s only historically Black public university and plans to return to the faculty.

A day after deadly Hurricane Beryl pounded Texas, experts at Colorado State University on Tuesday increased their storm forecast for what was already expected to be an above-average hurricane season.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has been busy over the last few months signing laws that were passed as part of the 2024 Legislative Session.

A state task force responsible for selecting the site for the Florida Museum of Black History recommended St. Johns County as the new home for the museum in a final vote on Friday.

As acts of antisemitism have been on the rise, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed two bills on Monday.

Gov. Ron DeSantis on Friday signed a controversial measure that will bolster self-defense arguments for people who kill bears on their property, while vetoing a bill that would have prevented motorists from cruising in the left lanes of highways.

Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday is holding a press conference in Miami to sign three bills aimed at enhancing cancer research, innovation and health care.

Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday signed the state’s $116.5 billion budget on Wednesday, but that was about $1 billion less than what Florida legislators recommended.

A lawsuit about whether the University of Florida should return fees to students because of a campus shutdown early in the COVID-19 pandemic will go before the Florida Supreme Court on Wednesday.

Over the past few months, Florida lawmakers and Gov. Ron DeSantis have been busy passing new laws as part of the 2024 Legislative Session. As of Monday, 144 bills have been passed that are set to go into effect on July 1 — less than one month away.

Tallahassee Mayor John Dailey says recovery from a May 10 tornado outbreak has cost Florida’s capital city $50 million so far.

Progressive civic groups have challenged how four congressional districts and seven state House districts in South Florida were drawn by the Republican-controlled Florida Legislature.

Retailers hope Floridians will heed multiple forecasts that the upcoming hurricane season will be more active than normal.

More than 15 million people from Texas to Florida are under threat of severe storms and the potential for more tornadoes.

U.S. officials who predict, prepare for and respond to natural disasters have a message for Floridians: It’s not a matter of if but when a hurricane will hit the state.