The 2024 Legislative Session ended earlier this March and I wanted to take a moment to go over some of what we were able to accomplish this session! The number one job of a State Representative is to pass the budget. Additionally, we are currently able to sponsor 7 bills, cosponsor any number of bills and request appropriations for organizations in our district, or who serve our district. This session we were able to pass a bill, co-sponsored 66 bills, was instrumental in updating statue and had over three hundred constituent meetings! We also had five Ceremonial Resolutions Adopted and filed a whopping twelve appropriation projects which equaled a request of over twenty million dollars. I had over thirty committee meetings, where we heard presentations from state agencies, as well as bills that will impact our district and the state. We spent over ninety hours on the house floor; hearing bills, filing amendment, and debating in support or opposition of legislation. It was a busy and productive session and I was honored and proud to serve the great District 44 in the Florida House. I look forward to continued service and and the keep the fight as we move into the next election. In service,

Hey, District 44 Fam! We are approaching week three of the session, and the bad bills are on the move! There is the Flag Ban Bill that has been getting a lot of headlines. "HB 901 would ban certain flags (think Pride) from government buildings and classrooms. As Floridians struggle to pay their rent or worry about the cost of property insurance, the majority party has continued their focus on senseless culture wars and divisive tactics that won't do anything to help Floridians. While they play silly games, we've been hard at work on bills that will address issues that our constituents care about the most. While they posture for political points, I filed a bill that would keep kids who have severe allergies safe at school. It's vital that parents feel confident about what their school district's protocol is should their child experience anaphylaxis while at school and need the use of an EpiPen. This bill has gotten a lot of good press, and the Orlando Sentinel did a great job covering Sherry Isler, whose son, Lincoln, has allergies and requires an EpiPen should he have an allergic reaction. Recently, I met with Sherry in Tallahassee and talked to her one-on-one about why this legislation is so important. We are working hard to get this bill heard on a committee, and you can help by joining our email list and keeping up with ways to assist with this bill and other pieces of legislation. It is a genuine honor to work with the great people of my district and represent them in Tallahassee. Join our mailing list

Hey, District 44 Fam! We had two busy committee weeks in November! So far, our office has filed THREE bills. Also, we have requested over 20 MILLION dollars in appropriations for various non-profit organizations in the district. We are here back in the District until December 4th, and we are looking forward to some fun events and serving our excellent District 44 community! Remember, if you need anything, please get in touch with me at Rita.Harris@MyFloridaHouse.Gov! Past Events Transgender Day of Remembrance We took time to say the names of the beautiful Transgender souls we lost last year. We renewed our commitment to making Florida a place everyone can be healthy, safe, and prosperous. See Birthdays! November is such a special month for me. Not only is it when we get cooler weather and spend Thanksgiving with family, but it's also the month my husband and daughter were born. I am fortunate to have such a wonderful family! Visits with Community Organizations We had many great meetings with community organizations like the Heart of Florida United Way and Dress for Success, to name a few. We talked about their legislative priorities and appropriation requests. Upcoming Events The Hunters Creek Twilight Parade is a great time to connect with the community and celebrate the holiday season. Join us as we walk in the parade! Sign up for the parade here! Until next time! Yours in service.

Excited to present our 1st bill... What are your experiences with Epipens in Public Schools? We'd love to hear from you!

I can't say how much I love being a State Representative. I know I'm a bit biased, but I LOVE District 44. After spending 20 years here, most of them raising my daughter, I can't help but smile when I pass a spot and think back to Anissa playing there when she was a kid or laugh when I think of a date night with my husband at a particular restaurant. And to think that I now get to serve and advocate for this community is a dream come true! January has been a month for the records. After getting thrown into the mix during December's special session, we got into the groove of committee weeks. I am honored to serve on some pretty great committees: Children, Families, & Seniors Subcommittee Transportation and Modals Subcommittee State Administration and Technology Appropriations Subcommittee Ethics, Elections, & Open Government Subcommittee Infrastructure and Tourism Appropriations Subcommittee Joint Committee on Collective Bargaining We also got into the community! It was exciting to open our District Office right in the heart of District 44 on South Orange Blossom Trail and Consulate. The opening party was more than I could imagine, and it was great to see so many people I hadn't seen in weeks as we've been in Tally getting the work in. We also got to attend the 50 years of Roe Rally in Orlando AND Tallahassee! While it should have been a time to celebrate the right to the freedom of bodily autonomy, it was a moment for us to reflect that Roe was never the ceiling, it was always the floor, and while there is work to do, there are many people in the fight. We can do great things when we work together! Oh yeah, and that last pic is one of just two Harris' hanging out in Tallahassee! But, in all seriousness, it was amazing to see our Vice-President come to the State Capitol and rally us for the fight we have ahead. As always, I can't thank everyone enough for your support. I will never forget how lucky I am to be up there fighting for us. It is always my honor. Yours in Service, Rita!

2022 was quite a year here at Team Rita! In February we filed to run for the newly drawn Florida House District 44 which includes my Lake Nona, Meadow Woods, Hunters Creek, Falcon Trace, Williamsburgh, Sky Lake South, Taft, and Dr. Phillips. Over the summer we ran an amazing campaign and got 290 individual donors and over 25 endorsements. In August we won our primary, and since there were two Democrats in the race, there was no general election! In November, we headed up to Tallahassee for swearing-in! I am so grateful and honored to represent such an amazing district alongside champions like Representative Anna Eskamani, Representative Lavon Bracy Davis, and Representative Johanna Lopez! We headed up for a special session in December. I co-sponsored a bill that would have given Floridians immediate relief for property insurance, but it was ruled out of order. I also filed an amendment to a bill that gives people a portion of their toll money back in a rebate. My amendment would have given a refund to public transportation riders. And I filed for re-election! I'm so excited to be your servant, and I'm looking forward to 2023 and the good things yet to come! Rita!