Tenure

First elected to the Maryland House of Delegates, 2006. Member of the House, 2007 - 2015. First elected to the Maryland Senate in 2014. Member of the Senate since 2015.

Current Assignments

2020 Chair, Budget and Taxation Committee (Member, 2015)

2019 Rules Committee

2021 Joint Committee on Pensions

2020 Executive Nominations Committee

2019 Legislative Policy Committee

2019 Spending Affordability Committee

2023 Commission on Transportation Revenue and Infrastructure Needs

2023 Maryland Veterans Caucus

2021 Maryland Legislative Latino Caucus

2024 Maryland Legislative Jewish Caucus, Associate Member

Past Senate Service

Majority Leader, 2019; Majority Whip, 2016-2019; Health and Human Services Subcommittee, Budget and Taxation Committee (Chair, 2019), 2015-2019; Pensions Subcommittee, Budget and Taxation Committee (Chair 2016-2019), 2015-2019; Joint Committee on Pensions (Chair 2017-2019), 2015-2019; Special Joint Legislative Committee to Select the State Treasurer, 2023, 2021; Reapportionment and Redistricting Committee, 2022; Joint Audit and Evaluation Committee, 2019; Joint Committee on Children, Youth, and Families, 2019; Co-chair, Workgroup on the Maryland Open Transportation Investment Decision Act, 2017-2019; Joint Audit Committee (Senate Chair 2016), 2015-2019; Joint Committee on Administrative, Executive and Legislative Review, 2015-2019; Marijuana Legalization Workgroup, 2019; Public Safety and Policing Workgroup, 2015-2016; Joint Covid Response Workgroup, 2020; Senate Chair, Howard County Delegation, 2015-2019; Capital Budget Subcommittee of the Budget and Taxation Committee, 2019.

Past House Service 2007-2015

Deputy Majority Whip, 2011-2015; Appropriations Committee, 2007-2015; Oversight Committee on Personnel of the Appropriations Committee, 2007-2015; Chair, Public Safety and Administration Sucommittee, 2013-2015; Capital Budget Subcommittee of the Appropriations Committee, 2013-2015; Education and Economic Development Subcommittee of the Appropriations Committee, 2009-2013; Health and Human Resources Subcommittee of the Appropriations Committee, 2007-2008; House Chair, Joint Audit Committee, 2011-2015; Joint Committee on the Management of Public Funds, 2011-2015; Chair, Howard County House Delegation, 2011-2015, 2008-2010; House Emergency Medical Services System Workgroup, 2009-2015; House Regional Revitalization Workgroup, 2013-2015.

Public Service

Budget & Tax Committee, Council of State Governments-Eastern Regional Conference, 2023-; Health and Human Services Committee, National Conference of State Legislatures, 2019-; Health Committee, Council of State Governments- Eastern Regional Conference, 2019-2023; Chair, Complete Streets Program Workgroup, 2018-; Chair, County Executive-elect Transition Team, Howard County, 2018, 2006; Objective Criteria Committee, State Retirement & Pension System Board of Trustees, 2018; Chesapeake Bay Commission (Vice Chair, 2020), 2016-2024; Board of Directors, Maryland School for the Blind, 2016-; Maryland Children's Environmental Health and Protection Advisory Council, 2016-2021; Early Childhood Education Action Group, 2015-2017; Central Maryland Transit Study Group, 2014; Task Force to Study Implementing a Civil Right to Counsel in Maryland, 2013-2014; P-20 Leadership Council of Maryland, 2010-2015; State Interagency Coordinating Council [for Infants & Toddlers], 2010; Girls' Services Strategic Plan Task Force, Dept of Juvenile Services, 2010; Blue Ribbon Commission to Study Retiree Health-Care Funding Options, 2007-2009; Interagency Steering Committee for Managing for Results, 2008-2015; Presidential Elector, Maryland, 2008; Howard County Tourism Board, 2007-; Chair, Zoning Board, County Council, Howard County, 2006, 2000; County Council, Howard County, representing Councilmanic District 3, 1998-2006; Chair, County Council, Howard County, 2003-2005, 2001; Board of Trustees, Chesapeake Bay Trust, 1999-2003; State Economic Growth, Resource Protection, and Planning Commission, 2000-2002; Maryland Air Quality Control Advisory Council, 1997-2002; Steering Committee, Governor's Smart Codes Strategy Group, 1999; Rural Legacy Technical Review Group, Department of Natural Resources, 1997.

Memberships

Maryland Legislative Transit Caucus, 2019-; Maryland Military installation Caucus, 2017-; Advisory Board, Even-Start Family Literacy Program, 2005-2007; Volunteer, NeighborRide, 2006-; Board of Directors, Community Action Council of Howard County, Maryland, Inc., 2002-2005; Legislative Committee, Maryland Association of Counties, 1998-2002; Chair, Board of Directors, Kings Contrivance Village, Columbia, Maryland, 1995-1998; Board of Directors, Kings Contrivance Village, Columbia, Maryland, 1994-1998.

Awards

Maryland State Medical Society (MedChi) Legislative Award, 2023; Legislative All-Star, Maryland Retailers Association, 2023; Honoree, Higher Education Power List, The Daily Record, 2023; Maryland Tech Council Advocate of the Year, 2023; Maryland Affordable Housing Coalition (MAHC) Housing Leadership Award, 2022; The Arc Maryland "Legislator of the Year", 2022; Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault (MCASA) "Visionary Award", 2022; The Arc Central Chesapeake Region Lorraine Sheehan Award for Advocacy, 2021; Rural Maryland Council (RMC) "Rural Champion", 2021; Maryland Municipal League (MML) "Municipal Super Star", 2020; Howard County Association of Realtors (HCAR) "Robert H. Kittleman Award", 2019; Maryland Association of Counties (MACo) "Visionary Award", 2019; Champion of the Chesapeake, Chesapeake Conservancy, 2019; Friend of Municipal Government, Maryland Municipal League, 2019; Legislator of the Year, Maryland Retailers Association, 2019; Maryland Hospital Association "Outstanding Legislator", 2018; Legislator of the Year, Mental Health Association of Maryland, 2018; Community Engagement Award, Phillips Pograms for Children and Families, 2018; Humanitarian Award, Howard County Community Action Council, 2017; Award of Special Recognition, Maryland Legal Services Corporation, 2017; Outstanding Legislative Leadership Award, Arc of Maryland, 2016, 2015; Legislative Superhero Award, Community Behavioral Health Association of Maryland, 2016; Legislative Champion Award, Maryland Association of Community Services, 2015, 2014; Legislative Award, Arc of Maryland, 2014; Public Service Award, Arc of Baltimore, 2014; President's Award, Howard County Arc, 2014; Legislator of the Year Award, Maryland Access to Justice Commission, 2014; Special Recognition Award from the Maryland Legal Services Corporation, 2013; Legislative Leadership Award, Maryland Association of Community Services, 2012; Jim Greenfield Compassionate Leadership Award, Howard County Arc, 2010; Maryland Tourism Advocate Award, Maryland Tourism Council, 2009; Legislative Star for the Community, Behavioral Health Association of Maryland, 2008; Achievement Award, Maryland Association of Community Services, 2008.

Biographical Information

Born, Baltimore, Maryland, March 27, 1964; Parkville High School; University of Maryland, College Park, B.A, Economics, B.A., Government and Politics, 1986; University of Maryland, College Park, M.P.M., Public Management, MacArthur Graduate Fellow, 1988; Georgetown University Public Policy Institute, Executive Certificate, Juvenile Justice: Multi-System Integration, 2008; Legislative Assistant to U.S. Representative Bill Nelson of Florida, 1988-91; Special Assistant to Howard County Council Member, Shane E. Pendergrass, 1991-95; Legislative Assistant to Delegate Shane E. Pendergrass, Howard County, 1995; State Director, Maryland Chapter, Sierra Club, 1996-98; Howard County Council (District 3) (chair 2001, 2003-05) 1998-2006; Eagle Scout.