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State Representative, District 59
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State Representative, District 59
Berny is an attorney, nonprofit executive, and former political analyst with experience in public service and politics. He currently serves as Senior Partnerships Director at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay and holds several state and local civic appointments. A Seminole resident, he describes himself as a pro-life Christian, NRA member, and defender of constitutional rights.
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Anti-Abortion Stance: Jacques maintains a staunchly pro-life voting record. In 2023, he drew significant media attention when he threatened to withhold state funding from the city of St. Petersburg if local officials proceeded with a proposal to allocate $50,000 to the Tampa Bay Abortion Fund to help residents travel out of state for abortion care.
Official record
Sponsored Civil Remedies Pertaining to Abortions
Official record
Voted Yes on OGSR/Aquaculture Records
Cosponsored Refrigerant Safety and Agricultural Continuity
Voted Yes on Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
Official record
Voted Yes on Data Centers
Official record
Voted Yes on Commencement of Civil Actions
Public Safety and Law Enforcement Support: Jacques frequently emphasizes that funding and supporting public safety initiatives is his top legislative priority. Drawing on his background as a former prosecutor, he advocates for strong law enforcement measures and has been named "Legislator of the Year" by the Florida Police Chiefs Association.
Sources
https://dos.fl.gov/historical/museums/blackhistorytaskforce/berny-jacques/
Opposition to "Woke Ideology" and DEI: He is a vocal supporter of Governor Ron DeSantis's agenda, particularly regarding policies targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. As a member of the Florida Legislative Black Caucus, he broke ranks with the caucus to publicly oppose the NAACP's travel advisory against Florida, arguing that conservative policies have instead fostered record-low crime and expanded school choice.
Sources
https://bernyforflorida.com/
TAMPA, Fla. — State Rep. Berny Jacques defended Florida’s law enforcement policies, highlighted a recent endorsement from a local police organization and argued that local governments should prioritize public safety spending if voters approve a proposed property tax overhaul.
bernyforflorida.com ·
Sources
https://bernyforflorida.com/news/
Archived copy: https://web.archive.org/web/20260928174219/https://bernyforflorida.com/news/
Official record
Voted Yes on Child Pornography Terminology
Official record
Voted Yes on Public Employees Relations Commission
Voted Yes on OGSR/Administration of Small Business Loan Programs Held by an Economic Development Agency
Voted Yes on Department of Commerce
Voted Yes on Employment
School Choice and Youth Mentorship: Due to his extensive professional background with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay, Jacques emphasizes community-driven youth outreach and mentorship over state-managed programs. He was appointed by the Florida Commissioner of Education to serve on the state's African American History Taskforce in 2023.
Official record
Voted Yes on Higher Education
Voted Yes on Pre-K-12 Education
Voted Yes on Education
Voted Yes on Education
Official record
Voted Yes on Elections
Voted Yes on Candidate Qualification
Voted Yes on Security for Nominees and Officers-elect to the Offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor
Voted Yes on Elections
Voted Yes on Volunteering at Polling Locations
April 23, 2026 | by Berny Jacques Yesterday, I joined Gov. DeSantis and colleagues in Jacksonville where I witnessed the signature of HB 1217—a bill I sponsored with Rep. Snyder which bans local governments from enacting Green New Scam policies! Thanks to HB 1217, Floridians will not be bogged down by excessive regulations. Instead, Florida will lead in providing affordable and reliable energy to all!
bernyforflorida.com ·
Sources
https://bernyforflorida.com/news/Archived copy: https://web.archive.org/web/20260928174219/https://bernyforflorida.com/news/
Official record
Voted Yes on Rural Electric Cooperatives
Voted Yes on Advanced Nuclear Reactors
Voted Yes on Energy Infrastructure Investment
April 23, 2026 | by Berny Jacques Yesterday, I joined Gov. DeSantis and colleagues in Jacksonville where I witnessed the signature of HB 1217—a bill I sponsored with Rep. Snyder which bans local governments from enacting Green New Scam policies! Thanks to HB 1217, Floridians will not be bogged down by excessive regulations. Instead, Florida will lead in providing affordable and reliable energy to all!
bernyforflorida.com ·
Sources
https://bernyforflorida.com/news/Archived copy: https://web.archive.org/web/20260928174219/https://bernyforflorida.com/news/
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Republican Rep. Berny Jacques announced Wednesday that he has secured $6.8 million in state funding for his district, including major infrastructural investments aimed at addressing chronic flooding in Pinellas County following the devastating 2024 hurricane season.
bernyforflorida.com ·
Sources
https://bernyforflorida.com/news/Archived copy: https://web.archive.org/web/20260928174219/https://bernyforflorida.com/news/
The state representative noted that a primary focus of his funding push is mitigating heavy flood zones in House District 59, which bore the brunt of back-to-back hits from Hurricanes Helene and Milton in 2024.
bernyforflorida.com ·
Sources
https://bernyforflorida.com/news/Archived copy: https://web.archive.org/web/20260928174219/https://bernyforflorida.com/news/
Official record
Voted Yes on Petroleum Cleanup Programs
Voted Yes on Onsite Sewage Treatment and Disposal System Permits
Official record
Voted Yes on Children’s Initiatives
Voted Yes on Pub. Rec./Applicants, Owners, and Operators of Family Foster Homes and References of Such Persons
Voted Yes on Dependent Children
Official record
Voted Yes on Minimum Age for Firearm Purchase or Transfer
Cosponsored Minimum Age for Firearm Purchase or Transfer
Official record
Voted Yes on Health Care
Voted Yes on Uterine Fibroid Research Database
Voted Yes on Onsite Sewage Treatment and Disposal System Permits
Voted Yes on Drug Prices and Coverage
Voted Yes on Parkinson's Disease Registry
Property Tax Relief: On his campaign platform, Jacques supports conservative fiscal reforms, including a state proposal aimed at backing constitutional property tax relief measures for Florida homeowners.
Sources
https://bernyforflorida.com/
Official record
Voted Yes on Local Housing Assistance Plans
Voted Yes on Housing for Veterans
Voted Yes on Citizens Property Insurance Corporation
Voted Yes on Community Associations
Official record
Voted Yes on Employment Eligibility
Sponsored Violation of State Immigration Law
Sponsored Employment Eligibility
Voted Yes on Advertisements for Representation Services
Voted Yes on Employment Eligibility
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Republican Rep. Berny Jacques announced Wednesday that he has secured $6.8 million in state funding for his district, including major infrastructural investments aimed at addressing chronic flooding in Pinellas County following the devastating 2024 hurricane season.
bernyforflorida.com ·
Sources
https://bernyforflorida.com/news/Archived copy: https://web.archive.org/web/20260928174219/https://bernyforflorida.com/news/
The state representative noted that a primary focus of his funding push is mitigating heavy flood zones in House District 59, which bore the brunt of back-to-back hits from Hurricanes Helene and Milton in 2024.
bernyforflorida.com ·
Sources
https://bernyforflorida.com/news/Archived copy: https://web.archive.org/web/20260928174219/https://bernyforflorida.com/news/
Official record
Voted Yes on Department of Management Services
Voted Yes on Documentary Stamp Tax Distributions
Voted Yes on State Agency Law Enforcement Radio System
TAMPA, Fla. — State Rep. Berny Jacques defended Florida’s law enforcement policies, highlighted a recent endorsement from a local police organization and argued that local governments should prioritize public safety spending if voters approve a proposed property tax overhaul.
bernyforflorida.com ·
Sources
https://bernyforflorida.com/news/Archived copy: https://web.archive.org/web/20260928174219/https://bernyforflorida.com/news/
Official record
Voted Yes on Assessments Levied on Recreational Vehicle Parks
Voted Yes on Official Actions of Local Governments
Voted Yes on Local Government Regulation of Chickees
Official record
Official record
Voted Yes on Retirement
Voted Yes on Retirement
Voted Yes on Retirement
Voted Yes on Retirement
TAMPA, Fla. — State Rep. Berny Jacques defended Florida’s law enforcement policies, highlighted a recent endorsement from a local police organization and argued that local governments should prioritize public safety spending if voters approve a proposed property tax overhaul.
bernyforflorida.com ·
Sources
https://bernyforflorida.com/news/Archived copy: https://web.archive.org/web/20260928174219/https://bernyforflorida.com/news/
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Republican Rep. Berny Jacques announced Wednesday that he has secured $6.8 million in state funding for his district, including major infrastructural investments aimed at addressing chronic flooding in Pinellas County following the devastating 2024 hurricane season.
bernyforflorida.com ·
Sources
https://bernyforflorida.com/news/Archived copy: https://web.archive.org/web/20260928174219/https://bernyforflorida.com/news/
The state representative noted that a primary focus of his funding push is mitigating heavy flood zones in House District 59, which bore the brunt of back-to-back hits from Hurricanes Helene and Milton in 2024.
bernyforflorida.com ·
Sources
https://bernyforflorida.com/news/Archived copy: https://web.archive.org/web/20260928174219/https://bernyforflorida.com/news/
Official record
Voted Yes on Property Tax Administration
Voted Yes on Department of Management Services
Official record
Voted Yes on Local Government Cyber Security
Voted Yes on Data Centers
Voted Yes on Local Government Cyber Security
Voted Yes on Information Technology Procurement and Contracting
Official record
Voted Yes on Veterans Dental Care Grant Program
Voted Yes on Veterans
Voted Yes on Veterans
Voted Yes on Veteran and Spouse Nursing Home Beds
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Republican Rep. Berny Jacques announced Wednesday that he has secured $6.8 million in state funding for his district, including major infrastructural investments aimed at addressing chronic flooding in Pinellas County following the devastating 2024 hurricane season.
bernyforflorida.com ·
Sources
https://bernyforflorida.com/news/Archived copy: https://web.archive.org/web/20260928174219/https://bernyforflorida.com/news/
The state representative noted that a primary focus of his funding push is mitigating heavy flood zones in House District 59, which bore the brunt of back-to-back hits from Hurricanes Helene and Milton in 2024.
bernyforflorida.com ·
Sources
https://bernyforflorida.com/news/Archived copy: https://web.archive.org/web/20260928174219/https://bernyforflorida.com/news/
Official record
Voted Yes on OGSR/Persons Provided Public Emergency Shelter
Sources
https://dos.fl.gov/historical/museums/blackhistorytaskforce/berny-jacques
https://flhouse.gov/Sections/Representatives/details.aspx?MemberId=4886&LegislativeTermId=90https://bernyforflorida.com/newshttps://bernyforflorida.comhttps://www.flhouse.gov/Sections/Representatives/details.aspx?MemberId=4886
741 votes (yes: 726, no: 13, not voting: 2), 42 sponsorships.
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Election Day
November 3, 2026
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