Bill allowing statewide prosecutor to take election cases ready for House vote.

By Jacob Ogles, Florida Politics, February 9, 2023

The House is ready to vote on allowing a statewide prosecutor to pursue charges in many election-related crimes. The change in law could come after the arrest of 20 people by Florida’s new election police force. The bill (SB 4B) has been championed in the House by Rep. Juan Fernandez-Barquin, a Miami-Dade Republican. The House discussed the legislation on the floor a day after the Senate similarly passed the bill in the upper chamber. Representatives except to vote on the bill on Friday.

Legislation filed at the State Capitol would lower the amount a homesteaded property’s taxable value can increase per year, from 3% to 2%. Under current Florida law, the property taxes on someone’s primary residence are capped at an increase of 3% annually. However, House bill sponsor Juan Fernandez-Barquin says the annual 3% increase adds up quickly, especially with increasing property values across the state.

”There will be some immediate impact, but I think the real impact is going to be over the long-term. You are going to see a significant reduction over the long-term, over five years, over ten years, of what it could have been if it was 3%, as opposed to 2%.”

State Rep. Juan Fernandez-Barquin, R- Miami-Dade County

WCJB, February 4, 2023

Juan Fernandez-Barquin wins Republican Primary for HD 118, will face lone Democrat in General Election

Florida Politics, August 23, 2022

Rep. Juan Fernandez-Barquin dispatched two Republican Primary opponents Tuesday in his bid to hold onto the seat representing House District 118 for a third consecutive term.

With early and mail-in voting totals tabulated and all 63 precincts reporting at 10:50 p.m. Tuesday, Fernandez-Barquin had 65% of the vote compared to 27% for small business owner Daniel Sotelo and 8% for public school systems analyst Francisco Rodriguez.

He will face former South Bay Community Council member Johnny Farias, the lone Democratic candidate running in HD 118, in the Nov. 8 General Election.

Gov. Ron DeSantis announced his endorsement of Juan Fernandez-Barquin for State Rep. in District 118. Barquin is currently the State Rep. of District 119. “I’m pleased to endorse @RepJuanFBarquin for re-election to the Florida House,” DeSantis said. “He has been a strong leader in protecting public safety and parental rights. I look forward to working with Juan to Keep Florida Free.”

Florida’s Voice, August 8, 2022

Miami Herald recommends Juan Fernandez-Barquin for House District 118

Miami Herald, August 8, 2022

Fernandez-Barquin… offers the only bit of hope for real representation in a race where every candidate seems to be trying to outdo the others in their embrace of the far right — even though a third of voters in the district identify with neither party.

Fernandez-Barquin is the better informed of the candidates, in part because he knows the territory. The Herald recommends JUAN FERNANDEZ-BARQUIN in the Florida House District 118 Republican primary.

“Juan Fernandez-Barquin safely poised to repel Primary challengers in HD 118” via Jesse Scheckner of Florida Politics — Rep. Fernandez-Barquin faces two Primary challengers this year in his second bid for re-election to the House. One is something of a perennial candidate who has yet to win an election. The other is running for the first time. Neither has much of a chance of beating him. Fernandez-Barquin is running in newly mapped House District 118, which covers a narrow strip of Miami-Dade County west of the Florida Turnpike that includes portions of the unincorporated Kendall, Perrine, Sunset and Westchester neighborhoods. Fernandez-Barquin has established himself as one of DeSantis’ most loyal legislative allies.

Florida Politics, August 22, 2022

Early voting is now underway across South Florida for the Aug. 23 primary. With various races for different levels of the elected office playing out across the state, the ballots can be daunting.

WLRN, August 15, 2022

State Hispanic Chamber of Commerce endorses 28 Primary candidates for Florida Legislature

Florida Politics, August 11, 2022

The Florida State Hispanic Chamber of Commerce is backing 22 sitting state lawmakers and six candidates for the Legislature now competing in Primary contests across the state. In the House, the Chamber is supporting Republican Reps. Alex Andrade, Mike Caruso, Chuck Clemons, Juan Fernandez-Barquin, Fred Hawkins, Ralph Massullo, Lawrence McClure, Jim Mooney, Bobby Payne, Michelle Salzman, David Smith and Josie Tomkow.

En el 118 la elección es entre republicanos: Juan Fernández-Barquin, Francisco Rodríguez y Daniel Sotelo.

Elecciones primarias, momento clave para definir el futuro

Diario De Las Americas, August 6, 2022

Rep. Barquin discusses parental rights in education, home insurance, stop woke and tax relief for Floridians.

iHeartRadio, July 7, 2022

Rep. Juan Fernandez-Barquin sits down with The Brian Mudd Show to talk politics and his upcoming campaign.

Hoy primero de julio en la Florida entra en vigor la polémica ley del derecho de los padres en la educación. Y en medio de la controversia, las escuelas en el sur de la Florida dicen estar en proceso de desarrollar pautas para implementar la ley. …

El representante Juan Fernández, dice: “Está conversación es para los padres y los niños, los maestros no tienen un lugar en esta conversación”.

Entra en vigor en la Florida la Ley del Derecho de los Padres a la Educación

Telemundo 51, July 1, 2022

This Week in South Florida: Jason Pizzo and Juan Fernandez-Barquin

Local 10 News, March 28, 2022

The Florida State House of Representatives passed on Friday one of this session’s most controversial bills. Part of what HB-1 does is amp up enforcement and penalties to violence and vandalism, specifically during protests.

State Rep. Juan Fernandez-Barquin is a Republican who represents a portion of Southwest Miami-Dade and he’s been one of the bill’s prime sponsors. He delivered the closing arguments for it on Friday.

Businesses whose revenues decline by 15% or more as a result of a local ordinance or local citizens’ initiative will now be allowed to sue cities and counties for damages under a measure passed by lawmakers on Wednesday and sent to the governor for approval. The proposal is one of a series of measures passed this legislative session in the aftermath of the COVID-19 standoffs between Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis and more progressive big-city governments.

…

“This is my favorite bill by far,” Rep. Juan Alfonso Fernandez-Barquin, R-Miami-Dade County, said. “It’s a great bill.”

If new local rules hurt revenue, Florida businesses will be allowed to sue for damages

Miami Herald, March 9, 2022

Florida Legislature, Including Some Democrats, Rebuke Biden For Going Soft On Colombian Terrorist Group

The Tampa Free Press, March 6, 2022

The website Florida Politics reported that Barquin-Fernandez’s wife is Colombian and that his friend’s brother was kidnapped and murdered by FARC.

Fernandez-Barquin sponsored what’s known as a “memorial,” which is a notice that does not carry the weight of law. In his memorial, Fernandez-Barquin recalled America’s 200-year relationship with Colombia, and noted that with U.S. help Colombia has evolved from “a volatile and near-failed state in 2001 into a rich democracy with a growing free market in 2021.”

The memorial declares the House’s “firm commitment to Colombia, the United States’ strongest ally in Latin America, and urges Congress to oppose the Biden Administration’s removal of FARC from the list of Foreign Terrorist Organizations.” The document also “urges Congress to use all means possible, including divestiture, to impede ties, commercial or otherwise, with FARC.”

The bill, (SB 994) known as the Florida Pet Protection Act, would require state licensing, periodic inspections and sales-record audits of pet shops by the Department of Professional Business Regulations but would preempt local laws like the county ban approved by a 4-3 vote of commissioners.

Humane Society officials panned the legislation introduced by a pair of South Florida Republicans, Sen. Manny Diaz Jr. and Rep. Juan Fernandez-Barquin, saying it undermines local efforts to stop the steady flow of sickly animals from puppy mills to retail shops in the Orlando area.

Proposed state law would void Orange County ban on pet sales, save pet stores

Orlando Sentinel, January 20, 2022

Manny Diaz, Juan Fernandez-Barquin to revive bill regulating pet sales

Florida Politics, December 6, 2021

Sen. Manny Diaz and Rep. Juan Fernandez-Barquin will give a new face to an old bill this Session, as they’re sponsoring a measure aiming to more strictly regulate pet sales — and help cut down on puppy mills.

The measures would require retail pet stores to obtain a license from the Department of Business and Professional regulation to sell animals.

The legislation also requires those stores to only acquire animals from qualified breeders, animal rescues, animal shelters, pet brokers or individuals who are exempt from licensure. That includes individuals who don’t routinely sell animals.