SENATOR JAY COLLINS
Fighting to Keep Florida Free
Revitalize Agriculture
Empower Veterans
Support Law & Order
Improve Education
Strengthen Business
Jay Collins
MEET
Senator Collins is a highly decorated Army Special Forces combat veteran; he received a number of debilitating injuries causing him to lose his leg. He served five additional years as a Green Beret post-amputation, retiring after completing over 23 years of service.
Following his military service, Senator Collins took a position with Operation BBQ Relief, overseeing the distribution of millions of meals to Americans following natural disasters and helping veterans and their families by creating culinary delights together. Through his nonprofit work across the country, Senator Collins heard the concerns of Americans. Americans who agree that they want their families to succeed, their children to have better lives than they did, and to improve the quality of life in their communities. With this in mind, the Senator took the chance and answered the call to public service by running for Florida State Senate in District 14.
Following his victory in November 2022, Senator Collins was appointed to a number of committees, serving as Chairman of the Agriculture Committee. He knows that if you eat food, you’re part of Agriculture and therefore food security is National Security. As the Chair, he led an impact focusing on the stabilization, revitalization, and growth of this critical economic space. Additionally, he has written and passed over 40 unique pieces of legislation and brought back over $120 million to improve the Tampa Bay region, Florida’s First Responders and Veterans, and some of the finest Florida State Educational Institutions.
A committed family man, Senator Collins is married to his wife of 23 years Layla, a retired veteran with 20 years of service in her own right, and a father to two young sons, Gabe and Colt. As a family they rescued their pup Tucker, attend Grace Family Church, and strive to leave things better than they got it.
Results for Florida Families
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UNIVERSAL LICENSURE
• Created a more streamlined process for occupational licensing across state lines, making it easier for individuals to move to and work in the Free State of Florida.
• Florida had fallen behind in occupational licensing. We’ve now reduced barriers of entry for our professionals, increased competition, promoted economic growth, and kept Florida aggressive.
ENERGY
• Passed a transformative Energy package to fight “green new deal” ideology, and expand reliable, cost effective energy in our state.
• This legislation seeks to lower prices for Floridians, lift regulatory barriers that weaken our energy supply chains, and prepare our state for future technology like nuclear power, and small modular reactors (SMRs).
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BANNED CULTIVATED MEAT
• Protected consumers from the unknown consequences of this untested product with no data concerning its long-term effects.
• Protected our cattle farmers from threats of foreign interference.
SUPPORTED OUR FARMERS
• Prevented local governments from burdening our agriculture industry with overbearing farmworker housing regulations.
• Created criminal penalties for trespassing on designated commercial agricultural property with the intent to commit a crime.
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PROTECTING OUR FIRST RESPONDERS
• Protected our first responders from harmful exposure to fentanyl, which is approximately 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine.
• Provided a second degree felony for criminals who recklessly expose a first responder to fentanyl that results in an overdose or serious bodily injury.
PROTECTING OUR CHILDREN
• Added human trafficking of a minor to the list of offenses for which a single conviction requires an offender to be designated as a sexual predator.
• Increased the age for the child hearsay exception in court.
PROTECTING CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE
• Creates Cyber Florida within the University of South Florida to implement a State enterprise cybersecurity resiliency program.
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MILITARY & VETERANS’ WEEK AT THE CAPITOL
• Worked with the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs to create the inaugural Military & Veterans’ Week at the Capitol, to honor our heroes and connect them with Veteran’s Service Organizations across the state.
VETERANS PACKAGE
• Revamped the Veterans Employment and Training Services Program to encourage entrepreneurship and grow veteran-owned small business.
• Connected Veterans Florida with our state agencies to recruit veteran talent into our state’s workforce.
• Created a new exemption to hunting and fishing license fees for disabled veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces.
Contact Jay
(813) 281-2538
collins.jay.web@flsenate.gov
4902 Eisenhower Boulevard
Suite 217
Tampa, FL 33634