Jay Collins

Lieutenant Governor of Florida

Republican

State

Since August 2025

⚡ Not Up This Cycle

🔵 Unverified

Promise Score

95%

4 kept · 1 blocked · 1 pending

Voting Attendance

Pending

Not yet entered

✅

The Bottom Line

Strong Record — 95% Promise Score

95%

Out of 5 scored promises, Jay Collins has 4 promises kept, 1 blocked, 1 pending. The documented record shows a strong pattern of following through on public commitments. 1 additional promise is still being tracked.

4 Kept 1 Blocked 1 Pending

○

Defend Hope Florida Program

Government Reform

○ Pending

The Promise

"I will continue to stand behind Hope Florida and fight to protect this program from politically motivated attacks."

News Source Collins remarks alongside DeSantis · Florida Politics · May 2025

The Record

Collins was a vocal public defender of Hope Florida — a DeSantis administration charitable initiative that became the subject of a scandal involving allegations that Medicaid settlement funds were improperly routed through the program to political organizations. Collins spoke alongside DeSantis in May 2025 defending the program and again praised it at a Republican Party of Florida forum in August 2025. As of April 2026 investigations and legal proceedings related to Hope Florida remain ongoing with no final determination published.

News Source Florida Politics · May 2025 · Republican Party of Florida forum · August 2025 · Florida Phoenix · 2025-2026

⊘

Sponsor Child Labor Law Changes

Government Reform

⊘ Blocked

The Promise

"We must give Florida businesses and families flexibility in workforce participation."

Gov. Record SB 918 sponsorship · Florida Senate · March 2025

The Record

Collins sponsored SB 918 in February 2025 to remove working hour restrictions for minors aged 16-17 and loosen restrictions for 14-15 year olds. The bill passed the Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee 5-4 and advanced through additional committee stops. However SB 918 never reached the full Senate floor for a vote — it was indefinitely postponed and withdrawn from consideration when the 2025 legislative session ended. The companion House bill HB 1225 passed the House but the Senate version died before reaching a floor vote.

Gov. Record flsenate.gov · SB 918 · Florida Policy Institute · FastDemocracy · May-June 2025

✓

Pass the Pam Rock Act — Dangerous Dog Registration

Public Safety

✓ Kept

The Promise

"We must protect Floridians from dangerous dogs and hold irresponsible owners accountable."

Gov. Record Pam Rock Act (SB 932) sponsorship · Florida Senate · 2025

The Record

Collins authored and led passage of the Pam Rock Act (SB 932) in the 2025 legislative session, requiring owners of dogs classified as dangerous to register the animal, microchip it, have it spayed or neutered, and carry at least $100,000 in liability insurance. The bill passed the Florida Legislature and was signed into law by Governor DeSantis in May 2025.

Gov. Record flsenate.gov · SB 932 · 2025

✓

Vote for Florida's Six-Week Abortion Ban

Healthcare

✓ Kept

The Promise

"I will vote to protect the unborn and support the Heartbeat Protection Act in the Florida Senate."

Gov. Record Collins campaign statements · Florida Senate campaign · 2022-2023

The Record

Collins voted for the Heartbeat Protection Act (SB 300) in 2023, Florida's six-week abortion ban, which was signed into law by Governor DeSantis. The law took effect in May 2024 after the Florida Supreme Court upheld the prior 15-week ban. However, in November 2024 Florida voters passed Amendment 4 enshrining abortion rights in the state constitution, creating an ongoing legal conflict with the six-week ban.

Gov. Record flsenate.gov · SB 300 voting record · 2023

✓

Oppose Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Government

Government Reform

✓ Kept

The Promise

"DEI programs are divisive and have no place in Florida government or public institutions."

Gov. Record Collins legislative positions · Florida Senate · 2023-2024

The Record

Collins voted in favor of Florida's anti-DEI legislation (SB 266 and related bills) during the 2023-2024 legislative sessions, which banned DEI programs in public universities and government agencies. The legislation was signed into law by Governor DeSantis. However, reporting by Florida Politics in 2025 revealed that as COO of Operation BBQ Relief prior to his Senate tenure, Collins had mandated yearly DEI training for staff and applied DEI criteria in contractor and vendor selection — directly contradicting his stated opposition to DEI in government.

Gov. Record flsenate.gov · SB 266 · 2023 · Florida Politics · 2025 · Wikipedia · Jay Collins

✓

Pass Permitless Carry of Concealed Firearms

Public Safety

✓ Kept

The Promise

"Law-abiding Floridians should not need government permission to exercise their constitutional right to carry."

Gov. Record SB 150 sponsorship · Florida Senate · 2023

The Record

Collins sponsored SB 150 in 2023, which authorized permitless concealed carry of firearms for eligible Floridians. The bill passed the Florida Legislature and was signed into law by Governor DeSantis on April 3, 2023, taking effect on July 1, 2023. The law allows individuals who are legally eligible to own a firearm to carry it concealed without obtaining a concealed weapons permit.

Gov. Record flsenate.gov · SB 150 · April 2023

Promise Score Over Time

Month	Score	Entries	Change
May 2026	95%	6	—

Legislative record pending.

Jarrid "Jay" Collins (born April 28, 1976) is the 21st Lieutenant Governor of Florida, appointed by Governor Ron DeSantis on August 12, 2025. Born in Scobey, Montana, Collins experienced homelessness in high school before joining the U.S. Army. He served over 23 years in Army Special Forces as a Green Beret, including deployments in Iraq, South America, and Afghanistan. He sustained injuries that led to the loss of his leg, but continued to serve five more years post-amputation. After retiring from the military in 2018 he moved to Florida and became Chief Operating Officer of Operation BBQ Relief, overseeing disaster relief operations nationwide. He was elected to the Florida State Senate representing District 14 (Tampa/Hillsborough County) in 2022, serving as a key DeSantis ally until his appointment as Lt. Governor. He authored over 55 pieces of legislation and secured more than $120 million in funding for Tampa Bay. He announced his candidacy for Governor on January 12, 2026, citing executive experience as the only candidate currently serving in statewide office.

Others from State Government

The Lieutenant Governor of Florida serves as second-in-command to the Governor and assumes the duties of Governor if the Governor is unable to serve. The role is largely ceremonial but carries real succession authority. Collins was appointed to the position in August 2025 by Governor DeSantis, replacing Jeanette Nuñez. As Governor, the office holder would serve as chief executive of Florida state government with powers including signing or vetoing legislation, appointing cabinet members and judges, commanding the Florida National Guard, and managing the state budget.

Donor information pending.

Office Phone

(850) 717-9200

Official Email

[email protected]

Office Address

The Capitol, 400 S. Monroe Street, Tallahassee, FL 32399

ZIP Codes Served

ALL_FL_ZIPS