Jacksonville Today covers government with clear and accessible reporting. We keep you informed about City Hall decisions, mayoral initiatives, City Council meetings, and elections. Our political coverage extends beyond Jacksonville to include regional and state-level issues that affect Northeast Florida. We aim to provide context, accountability, and clarity so you understand how policies shape your community.
Featured image for “Florida’s legislative session: What passed, what failed, what’s next”
The Florida legislative session ended on Friday, but lawmakers are expected back in Tallahassee for special sessions on the budget, redistricting and property taxes.
March 16, 2026

Florida’s legislative session: What passed, what failed, what’s next

The 2026 session has ended — but without a budget. Lawmakers must tackle that in a special session.…

Featured image for “OPINION | Taxation contradiction: Making sense of muddled money messaging”
Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks on May 1, 2025, in Miramar. | Rebecca Blackwell, AP file
March 14, 2026

OPINION | Taxation contradiction: Making sense of muddled money messaging

When it comes to local taxation, Republican policy makers want to convince voters that it’s day and night at the…

Featured image for “With ‘These Truths’ public art project halted, funds might be redirected for other courthouse uses”
Rendering of "These Truths," the public art installation that the Cultural Council halted last year. | Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville
March 13, 2026

With ‘These Truths’ public art project halted, funds might be redirected for other courthouse uses

The proposed “These Truths” stainless steel sculpture had been in the planning phase for more than a decade before it…

Featured image for “Florida Legislature approves restoring funds to AIDS drug program”
The old Florida Capitol is seen with the tower of the current Capitol rising behind, during a legislative session in Tallahassee on March 6, 2025. | AP Photo, Rebecca Blackwell, File
March 12, 2026

Florida Legislature approves restoring funds to AIDS drug program

A plan to prevent thousands of HIV positive Floridians from losing coverage for their prescriptions for AIDS medication is headed…

Featured image for “City Council president launches JEA probe over fees, workplace complaints”
Jacksonville City Council President Kevin Carrico hold a news conference with Council members Ron Salem and Ju'Coby Pittman on March 11 at City Hall.
March 11, 2026

City Council president launches JEA probe over fees, workplace complaints

The special committee will aid the inspector general in determining if JEA commercial customers owe millions in fees, and will…

Featured image for “Here’s how much state lawmakers make each session”
Florida's legislature meets for 60 days every year. The dates change year-to-year, but lawmakers' pay hasn't changed in about a decade.
March 10, 2026

Here’s how much state lawmakers make each session

Florida lawmakers don’t make the highest pay in the country, but they don’t make the lowest either.…

Featured image for “Florida Legislature approves tighter e-bike regulations”
The rear wheel of Ultra Motor's A2B electric bike. | Mark Lennihan, AP
March 10, 2026

Florida Legislature approves tighter e-bike regulations

The House and Senate unanimously approved rules that require e-bike riders to slow down around pedestrians.…

Featured image for “Florida House passes reforms on homeowners associations”
Florida has nearly 49,000 HOAs covering about 9.6 million residents, according to a recent national report on the topic by a property management trade organization.
March 9, 2026

Florida House passes reforms on homeowners associations

The legislation gives homeowners more tools to resolve disputes — and even dissolve their HOAs.…

Featured image for “Pardoned Capitol rioter gets prison for molesting children”
This image from video provided by the Department of Justice from police-worm body camera shows Andrew Paul Johnson on the Lower West Terrace of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Jan. 6, 2021. | Department of Justice via AP
March 6, 2026

Pardoned Capitol rioter gets prison for molesting children

Andrew Paul Johnson, a Florida handyman, is among several pardoned rioters who have been charged with new crimes.…

Featured image for “Marsy’s Law may expand to shield crime victims and police”
An illustration of a police officer and victim under Marsy's Law.
March 5, 2026

Marsy’s Law may expand to shield crime victims and police

Bills in the Florida Legislative would extend Marsy’s Law to protect the identities of victims and police for 60 days.…

Featured image for “Own the home, not the land: A new tack on affordable housing”
March 5, 2026

Own the home, not the land: A new tack on affordable housing

A program of the Jacksonville Community Land Trust helps people buy a home at a lower price.…

Featured image for “Florida’s anti-DEI legislation irks local governments”
Debra Joshua was among the scores of people who participated in the 45th Martin Luther King Jr. Grand Parade through Downtown Jacksonville on Jan. 19, 2026. Joshua says equity is an ideal that is needed more in 2026. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
March 4, 2026

Florida’s anti-DEI legislation irks local governments

Bills filed by Rep. Dean Black and Sen. Clay Yarborough would prohibit funding for DEI efforts.…

Featured image for “Most Floridians would abolish property tax, UNF poll shows”
The Florida Legislature is considering the elimination of property taxes, and a majority of voters support it, a UNF poll found.
March 4, 2026

Most Floridians would abolish property tax, UNF poll shows

Fifty-six percent of people support a proposal to eliminate property taxes, the poll found.…

Featured image for “Homelessness rate improves in Downtown Jacksonville”
Two homeless men sleep in a doorway on Monroe Street. | Michelle Corum, Jacksonville Today
March 4, 2026

Homelessness rate improves in Downtown Jacksonville

City Council’s Duval DOGE committee hopes that lower homelessness will keep large employers in the urban core.…

Featured image for “Fernandina waterfront will get a new pirate statue”
A new pirate statue carved by Jett Paxton will soon grace Fernandina Beach's new waterfront park.
March 4, 2026

Fernandina waterfront will get a new pirate statue

A new pirate statue will replace Peg Leg Pete at a new park on the Fernandina Beach waterfront.…

Featured image for “Divisive Shore Drive project in St. Augustine is dead”
A proposed path path along Shore Drive in St. Augustine South is officially off the table. St. Johns County officials had proposed building a trail to get pedestrians and cyclists out of the winding two-lane road. | Noah Hertz, Jacksonville Today
March 3, 2026

Divisive Shore Drive project in St. Augustine is dead

St. Johns County commissioners have officially nixed the walking path proposed along Shore Drive.…

Featured image for “State takes aim at Jacksonville over ‘gun registry’”
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier holds a news conference on Feb. 9. 2026, in Green Cove Springs. | Attorney General's Office via Facebook
March 3, 2026

State takes aim at Jacksonville over ‘gun registry’

Attorney General James Uthmeier plans civil action after the city kept track of people with guns in city buildings.…

Featured image for “Vice chair of JEA board loses promotion over CEO flap”
JEA Board Chair Joe DiSalvo and Vice Chair Rick Morales at a committee meeting on Monday, March 2, 2026. | Mike Mendenhall, Jacksonville Today
March 2, 2026

Vice chair of JEA board loses promotion over CEO flap

Rick Morales will not be promoted to board chairman after asking JEA CEO Vickie Cavey to resign.…

Featured image for “Florida Supreme Court blocks redistricting challenge”
The Florida Supreme Court rejected a petitition seeking to challenge Gov. Ron DeSantis push for redistricting. | Tom Urban, News Service of Florida
March 2, 2026

Florida Supreme Court blocks redistricting challenge

The court ruled against two voters who challenged Gov. Ron DeSantis’ effort to redraw congressional districts.…

Featured image for “OPINION | Shot in the dark: The end of vaccine politics in Florida”
Sen. Clay Yarborough (seen here as a member of the Florida House of Representatives), is sponsoring a "medical freedom" bill in 2026. | Florida House
March 1, 2026

OPINION | Shot in the dark: The end of vaccine politics in Florida

The rise and fall of “medical freedom” is almost complete, as anti-vaccine fervor is falling out of favor in Tallahassee.…

Featured image for “St. Augustine drops longtime horse carriage operator”
Country Carriages has operated its horse and carriage business in St. Augustine since 2004. | Courtesy Country Carriages
February 27, 2026

St. Augustine drops longtime horse carriage operator

The action comes after pressure from animal welfare activists and a history of rules violations.…

Featured image for “JTA approves new fares for Connexion Plus”
A JTA Connexion Plus van. | Jacksonville Transportation Authority
February 27, 2026

JTA approves new fares for Connexion Plus

Rate adjustments come after the community complained about earlier plans to end the private Connexion Plus service.…

Featured image for “Local leaders back Randy Fine despite anti-Muslim comments”
Randy Fine speaks at the Florida Capitol in 2022 | Phil Sears, AP
February 27, 2026

Local leaders back Randy Fine despite anti-Muslim comments

St. Johns County Sheriff Rob Hardwick says he does not plan to rescind his endorsement of U.S. Rep. Randy Fine.…

Featured image for “City Council president urged to step aside during JEA blowup”
Jacksonville City Council President Kevin Carrico taking the oath of office in June 2025. | City of Jacksonville
February 26, 2026

City Council president urged to step aside during JEA blowup

Council President Kevin Carrico declined and attacked council member Jimmy Peluso as a “drama queen.”…