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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!

Happy Fourth of July! I hope you're having a safe and happy day! We also want to acknowledge Disability Pride Month and the positive impact the Americans with Disabilities Act has had on the lives of countless people. However, we know we have a ways to go, and we keep pressing on to full equity and accessibility for all! Upcoming Events Includes events hosted by State Representative Rita Harris but may include events hosted by other parties. Please take a look at the details to find out more info. If you weren't able to see our Joint Community Town Hall on Facebook Live, it's okay! You can watch the recording here. I am proud to be a panelist at the upcoming Center for Independent Living discussion on the 33rd Anniversary of the ADA. In the District Yesterday we saw a slew of horrible bills pass. Bills I was proud to advocate against on behalf of my community! These bills don’t solve our property insurance crisis, the affordable housing crisis, the lack of access to adequate healthcare crisis, and our being 46th out of 50 in education crisis. Proud to attend a Healthcare Townhall with Congressman Darren Soto. I filed the Expansion of Medicaid Opt-in for working people with disabilities because I believe access to healthcare is fundamental to having a full and prosperous life. While this bill never made it to the committee, I will keep fighting for it. Healthcare accessibility matters to me because I've experienced firsthand what it is like to not have insurance. It was super exciting to join Lake Nona High School and the Florida Farm Bureau as they unveiled their Farm Bot! This device can water, til, and even weed! It's exciting to see STEAM at work. Social Media I'm running for re-election and would love your help! Download your petition here! In the News Wesh 2 News “We saw a need for food,” she said. “So we wanted to give them a hand. They do so much for the community. We wanted to do whatever we could to uplift that and help them in any way and give them the support that they need.” As always, it's such a pleasure to represent such a fantastic community! It truly is my honor to be your public servant. If you need anything, reach out: Rita.Harris@MyFloridaHouse.Gov And of course, donate to send me back to Tally to keep fighting for you! Yours in Service, Rita!

Y’all, This session is moving FAST. So far, we’ve seen the same amount of big bills that most legislatures see all session, and we’re only coming into week 4. As a Democrat in District 44, I want you to be empowered to be engaged, so I will send out updates and ways for you to be informed so you can get involved because the antidote to despair is ACTION! There is a lot of misinformation traveling around via different avenues about gender-affirming care and children. One of the biggest myths is that children are getting surgery, which is FALSE. MOST gender-affirming care for children is social and doesn’t even involve medicine. Still, we must fight back against these overreaches in government and the attacks on our children! What exactly does HB 1421 do? Authorizes court of the state to enter, modify, or child custody determination under specified circumstances; prohibits persons & entities from expending funds for reimbursement for specified clinical interventions; prohibits person’s biological sex from being changed on the birth certificate; prohibits gender clinical interventions for minors; authorizes certain persons to refuse to participate in gender clinical interventions; prohibits health insurance policy & health maintenance contract from providing coverage for gender clinical interventions; provides physician liability & authorizes the award of specified damages, fees, & costs. Why do we need to take action now? The bill goes through the House and Senate committee process, then onto the floor for a final vote in the State House and Senate. Governor Ron DeSantis will sign this bill if it passes his desk. This bill goes against the will of Florida voters, doctors, and the transgender youth who know this bill will only lead to an increase in the mental health crisis in Florida. If enacted, It would take effect on July 1st of this year. In Florida, kids and parents want their family members and themselves to get the proper gender-affirming care. This is imperative for the young transgender community to feel safe/comfortable not only in their state but in their bodies. Unfortunately, this bill will worsen the youth mental health crisis as people will have to live with a negative stigma and a gender that is not theirs. We must organize a large-scale, coalition-based, nonpartisan resistance to stop this dangerous bill. When is the Health and Human Services Committee Meeting? Monday, March 27th, 2023 at 2:00PM k them to vote NO on HB1421 and instead pursue voting for real people and their choice versus this dangerous legislation. Contact your Representative here!: https://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Representatives/myrepresentative.asp Contact Members of the Health and Human Services Committee here!: Sample Script for Calling: Hi Chair (Fine), my name is (your name) from (area of FL) calling in Opposition to HB1421 Gender Clinical Interventions. This bill would remove children’s and parents’ choices and force a lot of people to be uncomfortable in their state, classroom, home, and their own bodies! This bill does not help families and is only concerning a certain group’s agenda. Please Oppose this bill by voting no on this bill. I can be reached at (number/email) if you have any follow-up questions! Sample Script for Calling: Hi Rep (Blank), my name is (your name) from (area of FL) calling in Opposition to HB1421 Gender Clinical Interventions. This bill would remove children’s and parents’ choices and force a lot of people to be uncomfortable in their state, classroom, home, and their own bodies! This bill does not help families and only concerns a certain group’s agenda. Please Oppose this bill by voting no on this bill. I can be reached at (number/email) if you have any follow-up questions! The Florida House voted on HB 543, which does away with the requirement to apply for a gun permit. I voted down this bill. You can watch my floor debate here: In the News... Honored to join the Democratic Women's Club of Florida to discuss what is happening in Tallahassee. I was quoted in WFTV: “I’m not asking that we ban them, I’m just asking for some simple training that people understand how to put it away safely, people understand what can be done with a gun, how it can harm somebody,” Rep. Rita Harris (D-Orlando) said I was also happy to join Florida Internet and Television for a quick interview. Events and more... Yours in Service, Rita!

March is Women's History Month, and it's a time to reflect on all the amazing women who have helped shape this world. Women like Shirly Chisolm and Fannie Lou Hamer. When I think of the incredible women who have inspired me, there are many, but the first to come to mind is my daughter, Anissa. Anissa was diagnosed with OCD as a teenager. She worked diligently to manage her mental illness and find ways to achieve her goals. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't see myself moved to reach for my dreams, and it's because of her. This month, let us appreciate all the fantastic women in our lives! Speaking of inspirational women, attending Senator Geraldine's Event, "Resistance and African American History at Icon Park was an honor. It's more important than ever that we learn the history of our country. I was honored to join Democratic LGBTQIA Caucus President Nathan Bruemmer and Senator Torres on a panel hosted by Representative Carlos Smith to discuss legislation that will impact the community. It is always my honor to do this work on behalf of my constituents. The next 60 days are gonna be hectic, but I am excited to serve! Yours in Service, Rita!

Black History Month is when we should reflect on the History of the African Diaspora, especially in how it relates to being an American. Black History IS American History and thus should be part of robust history classes in elementary, middle, and high school, but also at Colleges and Universities. Learning about Black History is invaluable and helps us create a more inclusive and equitable country for all. Here are a few links to great books that relate to Black History! The Three Mothers The First Next Time Hidden Figures Brown Girl Dreaming The Voice of Freedom There are many more great books out there and so many ways to learn Black History, not just in February but every month! During this special session, we saw several bills pass, two of which I voted no on and even filed amendments to make better. For HB 9B, I had concerns about the Governor (and any Governor, for that matter) appointing an entire board. In addition, this bill addresses an issue created because the Governor disagreed with a business's position on one of his bills. We can't allow free speech to be threatened in this manner. Watch my debate here. I've also had the opportunity to meet with many constituents and advocacy groups and discuss their priorities for the upcoming legislative session, and find out what is important to them. Some of these groups I met with in Tallahassee, and others came to our office in the district. I enjoy listening to the community's needs and finding ways to solve problems. A few outlets picked up the Reedy Creek story and covered me and fellow Democrats. You can read them here: Orlando Sentinel Yahoo Law.com Hopefully, we will see you there! As always, yours in service, Rita!

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!