TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Florida Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis issued a directive barring the Department of Financial Services, Unclaimed Property Division, from returning unclaimed property to nation-states, and other regions, that facilitate attacks and other hostilities towards Israel. The countries barred under the directive include Iran, Syria, Lebanon and regions associated with Palestine. To view the CFO’s directive, click HERE.

Today, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis announced the arrest of Florida insurance agent Naser Al-Sweity, who allegedly misappropriated more than $131,000 in premium funds from several insurance consumers, resulting in the cancellation of coverage and leaving one policyholder on the hook for $1 million in repairs following Hurricane Ian.

Today, Florida Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis announced the Florida Treasury will invest an additional $120 million in Israel bonds. The announcement comes following terrorist attacks in Israel on October 7 and further highlights and strengthens the relationship between Florida and Israel. After a recent purchase of $25 million in Israel Bonds, this additional bond purchase brings Florida’s total current investment in Israel bonds to $200 million, the largest total ever held at one time by the Florida Treasury. Under CFO Patronis’ direction since 2017, the Florida Treasury has now purchased $310 million in Israel bonds to diversify the state’s investment portfolio as part of a long-range investment strategy that has generated approximately $6.4 million in interest from these investments.

Today, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis issued a letter to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) demanding that the FCC immediately halt any further utilization of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. The letter comes following the October 4th national alert when the FCC decided to use their platform and send out a nationwide emergency test text message on all cell phones, wireless devices, TVs and radios.

Today, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis shared an important fire safety message to encourage Floridians to take precautions and protect against potential fire-related accidents this Halloween. According to the National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA), decorations catch fire first in approximately 800 reported home fires each year, and more than one-third of these fires are started by candles.

Today, Florida Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis recognizes the month of October as Cyber Security Awareness Month and offers cyber security tips to keep you, your family, and your business safe from potential scam artists, hackers and fraud.

Today, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis submitted a public records request to National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) President Charlie Baker for all records regarding the NCAA’s transfer waiver process for University of North Carolina (UNC) Wide Receiver Tez Walker and Florida State University (FSU) Defensive Tackle Darrell Jackson. Recently, the NCAA made the decision to overturn the waiver denial of UNC Wide Receiver Tez Walker.

Today, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis announced the arrest of four licensed insurance agents in Miami-Dade County identified as Alexander Faneites, Nicolas Giraldo Gutierrez, Yuriatsi Carrasco and Yanet Hernandez Suarez for allegedly submitting fraudulent life insurance policy applications to collect commission monies paid for each new policy. In total, more than $38,000 was taken in fraudulent commission payouts.

Today, Florida Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis issued a statement on the upcoming special session that will, among other items, address funding for the My Safe Florida Home Program. The program provides funding for free home inspections and match funding for home enhancements to harden homes against storms in an effort to reduce insurance premiums.

Today, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis highlighted October as Fire Prevention Month. The CFO urges fire safety, especially around the holidays, and encourages Floridians to ensure they have a plan in the case of a fire emergency at home.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis warns Floridians of the threat of online crowdfunding scams related to the heinous terrorist attacks in Israel and the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

NAPLES, Fla. – Today, during his IRS Roundtable in Naples, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis was joined by U.S. Senator Rick Scott to announce proposed legislation to identify state vendors who provide Artificial Intelligence (AI) services to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) as a means to fight back against the use of these technologies being corrupted by the IRS. According to media reports, the IRS has started using AI to investigate taxpayers.

Tallahassee, Fla. – In the aftermath of the terrorist attack against Israel and the runup to the weekend, today Florida Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis pledged law enforcement resources to state and local law enforcement agencies in Florida.

TAMPA, Fla. – Today, Florida Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis hosted a press conference at the Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa to award a check for $149,000 in unclaimed property to Moffitt Cancer Center and highlight October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The CFO highlighted his wife Katie Patronis’ five-year anniversary of her battle with breast cancer and encouraged Floridians to get screened. Since CFO Patronis took office in 2017, more than $2.1 billion in unclaimed property has been returned to Florida citizens and businesses.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Florida Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis announced the Florida Treasury will invest an additional $25 million in Israel bonds. The announcement comes following terrorist attacks in Israel this week and further highlights and strengthens the relationship between Florida and Israel. This bond purchase brings Florida’s total current investment in Israel bonds to $80 million, the largest total ever held at one time by the State of Florida. Under CFO Patronis’ direction since 2017, the Florida Treasury has now purchased $190 million in Israel bonds to diversify the state’s investment portfolio as part of a long-range investment strategy and has generated approximately $6.4 million in interest from these investments.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Today, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis issued a proclamation in support of the Nation of Israel following the terrorist attacks this past Saturday, October 7th. The proclamation was delivered to the Chabad Lubavitch of the Panhandle and FSU during the dedication of the new Chabad House.

Tallahassee, Fla. – Today, Florida Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis issued a statement applauding Governor Ron DeSantis’ proposal supporting Israel and sanctioning Iran.

Today, Florida Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis issued the following statement advocating for the NCAA to reverse course on Florida State University Defensive Tackle Darrell Jackson’s hardship waiver and make him eligible to play immediately due to recent reports that the NCAA granted eligibility to University of North Carolina Wide Receiver Tez Walker. The CFO posted about this decision earlier this morning on X.

Today, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis announced that more than $40 million in unclaimed property was returned to Floridians during the month of September. 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 announced that recent Hurricane Ian insurance villages in Southwest Florida issued nearly $7.5 million for policyholders in insurance claims checks. Last week, approximately 15 insurance companies, including representatives from the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), the Florida Department of Business Regulation (DBPR), and the Florida Association of Public Adjusters, were on hand at three insurance villages in Punta Gorda and Ft. Myers to assist more than 400 southwest Florida consumers impacted by Hurricane Ian.