Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood joined the family of an 8-year-old boy killed in a DeLand dog attack to speak on behalf of a bill they hope can prevent such a tragedy from happening again.

As part of this year’s Legislative session, Florida state lawmakers have been busy filing hundreds of different bills.

Lawmakers said the bill aims to help investigators find hit-and-run drivers more easily, though it could involve a new rule for all Florida drivers.

A Florida bill aiming to crack down even harder on squatters in the state has just taken one step closer to possibly becoming law.

In a top priority of Senate President Ben Albritton, senators on Wednesday unanimously passed a more than $200 million plan to bolster health care, education, transportation and economic development in rural areas.

SB 150 is also known as “Trooper’s Law,” named after the dog that was found tied to a fence along I-4 hours before Hurricane Milton made landfall. If passed, Trooper's Law would make restraining a dog outside during a natural disaster punishable by up to 5 years in prison.

Florida lawmakers have hit snooze on a repeal of later school start times for middle and high schools, revising the House and Senate versions of the bill to keep the new times but adding exemptions for schools that aren’t yet able to comply.

High schoolers may get a bit more wiggle room when it comes to graduating with the help of this Florida bill.

The bill aims to prohibit anyone from releasing chemicals into the atmosphere in an attempt to modify a variety of weather factors.

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier is going after the Fort Myers City Council after it rejected an agreement with ICE — a motion that Uthmeier said makes Fort Myers a “sanctuary city.”

From holding down property taxes on homes rebuilt after hurricanes to new post-storm rules for elections supervisors, the Florida House on Tuesday started moving forward with a proposal to address issues whipped up during the damaging 2024 hurricane season.

The legislation would give adoption shelters a way to screen prospective pet owners, which could help improve the ability of these groups to find safe homes for animals.

The proposals cover a variety of subjects, including property tax exemptions, election rules and term limits.

Monday afternoon, a state Senate committee is set to discuss a bill that aims to make changes regarding land use and development regulations in Florida.

Saying the restriction is “consistent with our historical tradition of firearm regulation,” a federal appeals court upheld the constitutionality of a Florida law that raised the minimum age to purchase rifles and other long guns from 18 to 21.

Florida lawmakers are once again pushing to ban left-lane camping on the state’s highways, though they may face an obstacle on their crusade: Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Florida House members Friday began digging into questions about property-insurance companies sending money to affiliated firms and shareholders while arguing the industry was losing money.

It might sound far-fetched, but it could soon be law. Florida Legislators are discussing a proposal that would ban people from trying to control the weather.

Following a new law last year aimed at helping homeowners get rid of squatters, Florida lawmakers are now pushing to expand those rules.

Inside the auditorium at Gateway High School Thursday night, Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez addressed a politically fraught topic that is of high interest to the large Hispanic community he serves: illegal immigration.

Investigators said the group primarily targeted rental vehicles using Apple AirTags, and one member is still at large.

On Monday, WalletHub released its latest ranking of the “happiest” cities in America, looking at which places experience the highest rates of fulfillment.

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.

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.

A Florida Senate committee has advanced a bill that seeks to make the state a hands-free driving zone.

Lawmakers argued that more granny flats could bring down the cost of housing in Florida, bringing a big boost to low-income workers.

As part of the latest Legislative kerfuffle, a couple of new bills aim to bring required topics into the classroom.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis ordered flags to be flown at half-staff later this week in the wake of a state lawmaker’s death, according to the governor's office.

Florida lawmakers are one step closer to making “Gulf of America” an official moniker under state statutes.

Property taxes have been a hot-button issue in Florida lately, and many of the proposals being tossed about by lawmakers reflect that fact.

On Monday, Florida lawmakers discussed a bill that would craft exemptions to the state’s minimum wage rules.

The top five cities on the list were home to more than one-third of all people in the nation last year who experienced homelessness.

Florida lawmakers have already introduced more than 30 bills related to insurance.

An undocumented immigrant accused of murder may be among the first to face the death penalty under one of the state’s newest laws.

Property taxes have become a hot-button issue in Florida recently, with many lawmakers looking to eliminate them altogether.

Currently, people who are 25 years old or older cannot seek such damages in medical malpractice cases involving deaths of their parents. Also, parents cannot seek such damages in malpractice cases involving the deaths of their children who are 25 or older.

Homeowners often feel the stress when their property tax bill arrives in the mail. Removing this burden could be appealing, though it comes with a new set of challenges.

As the latest Legislative session in Florida unfolds, many new specialty plates have been thrown out for consideration.

Lawmakers in 2023 approved the requirements, citing a need for older students to get more sleep. The requirements are slated to take effect in 2026, but as the deadline has neared, districts have said they are struggling to comply.

Florida’s annual legislative session is set to begin, with elected officials from the House and Senate gathering in Tallahassee.

A Seminole County circuit judge has refused to block the scheduled March 20 execution of convicted murderer Edward James, rejecting arguments that he should be spared, in part, because of “cognitive decline.”

Florida wildlife officials will hold a series of online meetings about the possibility of a return to bear hunting in the state.

A recent poll from a Florida business group suggests state residents are most concerned with the cost of insurance and the pressures of inflation above all else.

During his speech about a massive expansion project along Interstate 75, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced plans for yet another upcoming Buc-ee’s location in the state.

A Volusia County man is among five Florida residents who have been accused in a scheme to drain over $1 million from retirement funds for elderly retired Florida school district employees, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

A new Florida amendment could drastically cut down how much homeowners pay in property taxes each year.

The state’s Citizens Property Insurance Corp. last week shed about 100,000 policies, with its number of customers dropping to the lowest total in nearly three years.

Lottery scratch-off game The Cash Wheel’s top $1 million prize has been claimed by a man in Orlando, according to a news release from the Florida Lottery.

Florida port leaders continue to point to supply-chain problems in recent years as they push lawmakers to increase transportation infrastructure funding.

A Florida bill filed on Thursday could introduce a new tax holiday to the state — one aimed at helping residents bolster their homes against storms.

Amid debate about issues such as privacy and protecting vulnerable seniors, a House panel Thursday approved a proposal that would require nursing homes and assisted living facilities to allow video cameras and other electronic monitoring devices in residents’ rooms.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and first lady Casey DeSantis will hold a news conference at the State Capitol Building.

This month, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced his latest budget recommendations, which could bring significant changes to some of the state’s biggest highways.

Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday signed a death warrant for inmate Edward James, who was sentenced to death in the 1993 murders of a woman and her 8-year-old granddaughter in Seminole County.

Gov. Ron DeSantis signed off on agreements that several more factions of state-level law enforcement will work hand-in-hand with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to detain and potentially interrogate illegal immigrants.

If you’re a homeowner in the Sunshine State, this might just come as welcome news.

A proposal that would block local government oversight of the construction and management of an anticipated presidential library in Florida for President Donald Trump cleared its first Senate committee Tuesday.

Rep. Anna Eskamani put in a budget request for $394,321 for the city of Orlando's Pulse Memorial. That's the same amount of money that was returned when the previous group dissolved last year.

University of South Florida President Rhea Law announced Monday she will step down from her post, as major changes continue in the leadership of Florida public universities.

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.

Plenty of people enjoy sweets like Skittles, though they may not be the healthiest options. But a new Florida bill could take those options off the table altogether.

If you have a tree on your property, this "Fallen Tree Act" could hold you responsible if it causes any damage.

As Florida looks to expand the number of electric vehicles on our roads, and the infrastructure to support them, state lawmakers are looking at how they can add more funding sources to the budget.

State lawmakers filed new bills focusing on topics like left-lane camping, dangerous dogs, and new specialty license plates.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis appeared to put the state’s property tax in his crosshairs this week after voicing his position on social media.

After Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton pounded Florida’s Gulf Coast last year, the Federal Emergency Management Agency is borrowing $2 billion to pay National Flood Insurance Program claims.

A bill signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis Thursday will appropriate $298.8 million for immigration enforcement. A newly created State Board of Immigration Enforcement will get most of the money – approximately $250.7 million.

With the recent passage of some of the most stringent illegal immigration enforcement laws, many undocumented immigrants may choose to stop showing up for work due to fear of being detained, which some say could impact Florida’s economy.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed new laws cracking down on illegal immigration Thursday that are believed to be the country’s toughest.

A Florida lawmaker has introduced legislation aimed at strengthening the state’s dangerous-dog laws following the death of an 8-year-old boy who was mauled in Volusia County last month.

Amid a slew of new bills during Florida’s Legislative special session this week tackling illegal immigration, one stands out among the rest.

A Florida appeals court Wednesday cleared the way for President Donald Trump to pursue a defamation lawsuit against Pulitzer Prize board members in a dispute rooted in the organization awarding a prize to The New York Times and The Washington Post for reporting about alleged Russian interference in the 2016 election.

The state of Florida is on the brink of enacting the nation's most stringent illegal immigration enforcement laws

One of the latest bills filed ahead of the upcoming Florida Legislative session could change state rules regarding how flags are displayed.

Florida lawmakers are set to consider a new bill that would cement “Gulf of America” into Florida law.

Lawmakers in Florida are on the brink of enacting a new law addressing illegal immigration.

A new bill was filed yesterday in Florida, aiming to enforce hands-free driving across the state.

The Florida Legislature is going back to Tallahassee starting Tuesday to make changes to recently-passed — and contentious — legislation to crack down on undocumented immigrants.

Florida Sen. Ingoglia took to social media on Monday morning to claim that the new legislation would help protect residents' constitutional rights.

Special Florida House panels are teed up next week to scrutinize Gov. Ron DeSantis’ line-item budget vetoes, setting up possible overrides amid a dispute between the governor and Republican legislative leaders over immigration-enforcement plans.

Gov. Ron DeSantis held a news conference to announce Florida Highway Patrol troopers could soon be trained and approved by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to perform immigration enforcement duties.

Republican state Rep. Debbie Mayfield of Melbourne lashed out Wednesday against Gov. Ron DeSantis after his administration blocked her from qualifying to run in a special election to replace outgoing Sen. Randy Fine.

A Seminole County judge, who was suspended for "intemperate conduct" behind the bench, has been reprimanded by the Florida Supreme Court.

Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis revealed that over $33 million in unclaimed property was returned to Floridians in January alone, contributing to a total of more than $2.7 billion returned since he assumed office in 2017.

For Duke residential customers who use 1,000 kilowatt hours, the storm costs represent a $32.40 increase on monthly bills, according to a commission staff recommendation. But commissioners pointed to other upcoming changes in Duke bills, with the utility saying the net increase in March on a 1,000-kilowatt-hour residential bill will be $22.62.

Florida higher-education leaders want to quickly hear how universities need to address a pending national legal settlement that is expected to lead to schools facing at least $22.5 million a year in new athletic department costs.

In 2019, News 6 and a devoted team of advocates successfully changed Florida law, making texting while driving a primary offense.

The Republican-controlled Florida Legislature passed a bill Tuesday night aimed at curbing illegal immigration, sending the package to the desk of Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has derided the proposal for days.

A more than year-long legal battle between Florida State University and the Atlantic Coast Conference continued to ratchet up Monday, with the conference turning to the Florida Supreme Court to try to halt a lawsuit filed by FSU.

The Florida Legislature is currently in the midst of a special session focused on immigration, with Governor Ron DeSantis expressing dissatisfaction over the dismissal of his proposal.

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.

With a special legislative session underway in Tallahassee, attorneys at The Immigration Advocates in Longwood say fear and anxiety are affecting many of their clients.

The storm-related costs would add $31.18 to the monthly bills of such Duke customers — though Duke said last month it expects the customers would see an actual increase of about $21 a month because of decreases in other costs.

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.

State Sen. Randy Fine, R-Brevard County, is resigning effective March 31 from the Senate as he runs in a special election to replace former U.S. Rep. Mike Waltz, who was named national security adviser by President Donald Trump.

Snow is breaking records in Florida and a new t-shirt commemorates the weird weather and raises money for people experiencing homelessness in Florida. And if it's too cold to get a t-shirt, warmer options are available too.

A springs-advocacy group is challenging newly proposed state rules, saying they will not adequately prevent water withdrawals that could harm what are designated as “Outstanding Florida Springs.”

As Florida braces for impacts from a winter storm, schools and universities in northern Florida are canceling classes ahead of the winter weather.

With the Tallahassee area bracing for the possibility of snow and ice, Florida House and Senate leaders on Monday canceled committee meetings scheduled this week.

With Florida school districts facing a 2026 deadline, a Senate Republican files a proposal that would repeal requirements aimed at later start times for many high schools.