WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Today, during his IRS Roundtable in West Palm Beach, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis issued a letter to Venmo, PayPal, Cash App and Zelle demanding that they cease all operations to build technologies taxing Floridians from their small dollar transactions and that they public release all communications between their apps and the federal government.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Today, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis recognized National Truck Driver Appreciation Week and highlighted the economic contributions that truckers make in the United States. Trucking careers serve as one out of every 18 jobs in the state of Florida, with more than 427,950 Floridians employed in the trucking industry. Florida’s truckers are vital to state commerce and ensure that Floridians receive the goods and services they need to live, start or grow a business.

Today, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis announced that more than $32 million in unclaimed property was returned to Floridians during the month of August. Since CFO Patronis took office in 2017, more than $2.1 billion in unclaimed property has been returned to Florida citizens.

Today, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis highlighted the success of the My Safe Florida Home program, helping Floridians harden their homes against storms while reducing their insurance premiums. Last year, the Department of Financial Services launched the home-mitigation program, allowing Florida homeowners to obtain free home inspections that identify storm mitigation measures, provide grants to harden properties from storm damage and help decrease homeowners insurance costs. In May, Governor Ron DeSantis signed House Bill 881, which expanded eligibility requirements for the program. For more information about the My Safe Florida Home program, please visit MySafeFLHome.com.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Today, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis announced the victory in a potential class-action lawsuit, which sought to cast the state’s unclaimed property system as an unconstitutional taking. The lawsuit alleged that the state should pay interest or other compensation to claimants in addition to any unclaimed funds claimants are entitled to under state law. Since the CFO took office in 2017, more than $2 billion has been returned in unclaimed property to Florida citizens.

Today, following Hurricane Idalia, Florida Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis released public safety tips on lithium ion battery fires and the risk these batteries pose to the public following saltwater submersion.

PERRY, Fla. – Following the impacts of Hurricane Idalia, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis activated and deployed his Disaster Fraud Action Strike Team (DFAST) to protect Florida residents and businesses from fraud. The DFAST deployment consists of three teams comprised of 23 personnel, including insurance fraud and workers’ compensation fraud detectives.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis provided important information and resources for those who have coverage through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and who might be affected by flood damage from Hurricane Idalia. Managed by FEMA, NFIP offers flood insurance to help mitigate the impact of flooding on businesses, property owners, and renters.

Today, CFO and State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis reminds Floridians of the importance of using gas-powered generators safely ahead of Hurricane Idalia.

Today, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis and the Florida Department of Financial Services (DFS) provided new updates on Department activities regarding Hurricane Idalia.

Today, Florida Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis is reminding owners of Electric Vehicles (EVs), and other lithium ion powered devices, to relocate their devices away from areas that may be impacted by storm surge.

Today, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis is urging Floridians to take photo evidence of their home before Tropical Storm Idalia makes landfall so that homeowners have the materials and proof they need to make an effective insurance claim after the storm. Tropical Storm Idalia is expected to intensify into a major hurricane, bringing with it dangerous conditions for storm surge along Florida’s Gulf Coast, and is expected to make landfall on Wednesday. Visit PrepareFL.com for storm-related resources and information.

Today, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis is urging Floridians to take the necessary precautions to prepare their homes and property ahead of the tropical depression forming in the Gulf of Mexico. The tropical depression could strengthen into a tropical storm and bring heavy rain and damaging winds to Florida’s Gulf Coast on Tuesday or Wednesday of next week.

Today, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis announced the Florida Unclaimed Property Auction this weekend in Orlando, with the auction preview beginning on Friday, August 25 at 9 AM EST and the auction beginning on Saturday, August 26 at 9 AM EST. The auction will be held live and in-person at the Holiday Inn & Suites Across from Universal Orlando at 5916 Caravan Ct Orlando, FL 32819. For more information about the auction and items available, click here. For B-Roll video of the Florida unclaimed property vault and examples of unclaimed items, please click here.

Today, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis announced the arrest of Miguel Porras, owner of Thiago’s Enterprise Construction Inc., for Workers’ Compensation Premium Fraud of more than $350,000 after actively concealing payroll to avoid paying a higher workers’ compensation premium.

To stabilize the market, Gov. Ron DeSantis called two special sessions focused on insurance, and significant reforms were enacted to rein in abuses of the system that drove up premiums — and we can already see the benefits. I can’t begin to underscore how meaningful these reforms were.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis sent a letter to National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) President Charlie Baker asking the NCAA to reopen Florida State University (FSU) Defensive Tackle Darrell Jackson, Jr.’s hardship waiver request and make him eligible to play immediately. The NCAA denied Jackson's hardship waiver after the football player transferred from the University of Miami to FSU to be closer to his ailing mother.

Today, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis presented over $50K in cancer decontamination equipment funding to three fire departments in West Palm Beach.

Today, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis sent a letter to Illinois businesses outlining the dangers of a recent law passed by the State of Illinois to remove cash bail requirements.

Today, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis announced the arrest of David Alexander Jr. Caballero, an All Lines Public Adjuster of No Stress Claims, Alexander Castellanos, a former All Lines Adjuster and owner of Prestige Restoration & Renovation Inc., and homeowner Jennifer Ann Perez for conspiring to defraud Citizens Property Insurance Corporation (Citizens) of more than $136,000 by allegedly submitting fraudulent insurance claims related to the homeowner's air conditioner, water roof leak and tarp installation.