Sarah K. Elfreth

Sarah K. Elfreth (born September 9, 1988)[1] is a Democratic member of the Maryland Senate representing the 30th district.[2]

Sarah Elfreth
Sarah Elfreth in her Annapolis office, 2019
Member of the Maryland Senate
from the 30th district
Assumed office
January 9, 2019
Preceded byJohn Astle
Personal details
Born (1988-09-09) September 9, 1988
New Jersey, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
EducationTowson University (BA)
Johns Hopkins University (MPP)
Signature

Background

Elfreth was raised in Barrington, New Jersey[3] and graduated from Haddon Heights High School in 2006.[1] She attended Towson University and received her BA in Political Sciences in 2010.[4] In 2012, Elfreth earned her MS in Public Policy from Johns Hopkins University where she worked as a research assistant in the Office of Government and Community Affairs from 2010 to 2012.[5] Elfreth serves as an adjunct professor for Towson University's Honors College.[6]

Elfreth became active in politics while attending Towson University, when she became involved with student government and began traveling to Annapolis to lobby the Maryland General Assembly.[7] In 2009, Maryland governor Martin O'Malley appointed Elfreth to be the student member of the University System Board of Regents.[8] She didn't become involved with electoral politics until a few years later after hearing a speech by former Vermont Governor Madeleine Kunin. She briefly served in the office of House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer before working as the Government Affairs Director at the National Aquarium of Baltimore.[7]

After moving to Annapolis, Elfreth became involved with local politics, becoming a member of the Ward 1 Residents Association and serving on the District 30 Democratic Club. In June 2017, Elfreth filed to run for Maryland Senate, seeking to succeed state Senator John Astle, who did not seek re-election to run for Mayor of Annapolis.[7] She was elected to the Maryland Senate with 53.8 percent of the vote against former Delegate Ron George.[9]

In the legislature
Elfreth in the Budget and Taxation Committee, 2023

Elfreth was sworn into the Maryland Senate on January 9, 2019.[2] She is currently the youngest woman ever to serve in the Maryland Senate.[10][11] Elfreth is a member of the Budget and Taxation Committee, Joint Committee on Ending Homelessness, Education, Business, and Administration Subcommittee of the Budget and Taxation Committee, Capital Budget Subcommittee of the Budget and Taxation Committee, and Special Joint Committee on Pensions. She is Senate chair of the Joint Committee on the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bay Critical Areas.[1]

Committee assignments
  • Member, Budget and Taxation Committee, 2019–present (capital budget subcommittee, 2019, 2021–present; education, business & administration subcommittee, 2019–present; chair, pensions subcommittee, 2020–present, member, 2019–present)[12]
  • Senate Chair, Joint Committee on the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Critical Areas, 2019–present
  • Member, Joint Committee on Ending Homelessness, 2019–present
  • Senate Chair, Joint Committee on Administrative, Executive and Legislative Review, 2020–present
  • Special Joint Committee on Pensions, 2020–present (member, 2019–present)
  • Member, State Park Investment Commission, 2021–present[13]
  • Member, Work Group to Study Shelter and Supportive Services for Unaccompanied Homeless Minors, 2019–2020
  • Member, Senate President's Advisory Work Group on Equity and Inclusion, 2020–2021[14]

Other memberships
  • Senate Chair, Anne Arundel County Delegation, 2021–present
  • Member, Maryland Veterans Caucus, 2019–present (senate executive board, 2022–present)
  • Member, Women Legislators of Maryland, 2019–present

Political positions

Elections

During the 2021 legislative session, Elfreth introduced the "Student and Military Voter Empowerment Act", which would require higher education institutions to create websites to provide students with voting information and allow military members to register to vote using their Department of Defense Common Access Card.[6] The bill passed[15] and became law without Governor Larry Hogan's signature on May 30, 2021.[16][17]

Environment
Elfreth as chair of the Chesapeake Executive Council, 2022

During the 2020 legislative session, Elfreth proposed legislation to allow jurisdictions to create Resilience Authorities to provide funding to large infrastructure projects related to sea level rise, nuisance flooding, and erosion.[18] She also co-sponsored legislation to expand the public's role in rehabilitation projects in the Chesapeake Bay Bridge resurfacing project.[19]

During the 2021 legislative session, Elfreth introduced various environmental bills, including:[20]

During the 2022 legislative session, Elfreth introduced legislation that would require the Maryland State Retirement and Pensions System to consider climate change as a financial factor when making investment decisions.[21] The bill passed and became law on April 9, 2022.[22][23]

Government

During the 2019 legislative session, Elfreth introduced legislation to expand the Board of Regents' membership and implement additional oversight reforms.[24] The bill passed both chambers unanimously[25] and was signed into law by Governor Hogan on April 30, 2019.[26]

During the 2021 legislative session, Elfreth introduced legislation to create an "Office of Digital Inclusion" in the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development.[27] The bill passed and was signed into law by Governor Hogan on April 13, 2021.[28] She also introduced legislation that would require the state's Commission on Environmental Justice and sustainable Communities to "reflect the racial, gender, ethnic, and geographic diversity of the state".[29] The bill passed[30] and became law on May 30, 2021.[31]

During the 2020 legislative session, Elfreth introduced legislation to provide Maryland workers with up to 12 weeks of paid family leave, funded by a payroll tax shared equally by the worker and employer.[32]

Social issues

Elfreth supports abortion rights, describing access to abortion services as a matter of economics.[33][34]

During the 2019 legislative session, Elfreth introduced a resolution to designate June 28 as "Freedom of the Press Day" in honor of the five killed at the Capital Gazette shooting.[35] The bill passed unanimously[36] and became law on April 18, 2019.[37] In June 2019, Governor Hogan signed a proclamation declaring June 28 to be "Freedom of the Press Day" in Maryland.[38]

During the 2021 legislative session, Elfreth introduced legislation to provide students access to menstrual products in school bathrooms.[39] The bill passed and became law on May 30, 2021.[40]

During the 2022 legislative session, Elfreth introduced the "Great Maryland Outdoors Act", which would increase staffing, expand recreational amenities, and improve equity of access for Maryland state parks.[41] The bill passed and became law on April 24, 2022.[42]

Electoral history
Maryland Senate District 30 Election, 2018[43]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Sarah K. Elfreth 29,736 53.8
Republican Ron George 24,639 44.6
Libertarian Christopher Wallace, Sr. 826 1.5
Write-In 38 0.1

References
  1. "Members - Senator Sarah K. Elfreth". mgaleg.maryland.gov. Maryland General Assembly. May 14, 2020. Retrieved June 5, 2020.
  2. "Sarah K. Elfreth, Maryland State Senator". Maryland Manual On-Line. Maryland State Archives. February 20, 2020. Retrieved June 5, 2020.
  3. Arnold, Peter (December 9, 2019). "State Sen. Sarah K. Elfreth Discusses Environmental Issues Facing State Legislature". Baltimore Jewish Living. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  4. Yousefi, Sheariah (November 14, 2017). "Alumni Feature: Sarah Elfreth" (PDF). Towson.edu. Towson University Honors College. Retrieved March 26, 2019.
  5. "Candidate for state Senate: Sarah Elfreth". The Capital. June 1, 2018. Retrieved March 26, 2019.
  6. Leckrone, Bennett (January 7, 2021). "Lawmakers Push Bill to Expand Polling Place Access at Colleges, Military Bases". Maryland Matters. Retrieved June 12, 2022.
  7. Kurtz, Josh (June 28, 2017). "The Kid Prepares for Her Close-up". Maryland Matters. Retrieved June 12, 2022.
  8. "USM Welcomes Three New Members to Board of Regents". www.usmd.edu (Press release). University System of Maryland. June 29, 2009. Retrieved March 12, 2019.
  9. Kurtz, Josh (November 7, 2018). "GOP's 'Drive for Five' Stalls". Maryland Matters. Retrieved June 12, 2022.
  10. Hawkins, Samantha (January 7, 2020). "Dems Hail New Leaders 'Standing on the Shoulders of Giants'". Maryland Matters. Retrieved June 12, 2022.
  11. Wiggins, Ovetta (December 22, 2018). "A big wave of female lawmakers is about to land in Annapolis". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 12, 2022.
  12. Kurtz, Josh (August 2, 2021). "Ferguson Adds to His Leadership Team, Shifts Some Senators' Committee Assignments". Maryland Matters. Retrieved June 12, 2022.
  13. Shwe, Elizabeth (August 7, 2021). "New Commission Will Study Md. State Parks As Visits Soared During Pandemic". Maryland Matters. Retrieved June 12, 2022.
  14. Gaskill, Hannah (August 17, 2020). "Ferguson Convenes Senate Workgroup to Address Inequities". Maryland Matters. Retrieved June 12, 2022.
  15. Leckrone, Bennett (April 23, 2021). "As Other States Move to Restrict Voting, the Maryland General Assembly Passed Bills to Expand Access". Maryland Matters. Retrieved June 12, 2022.
  16. Leckrone, Bennett (June 16, 2021). "Election Reforms Will Make Voting More Accessible In Maryland, Advocates Say". Maryland Matters. Retrieved June 12, 2022.
  17. "Legislation - HB0156". mgaleg.maryland.gov. Maryland General Assembly. Retrieved June 12, 2022.
  18. Kurtz, Josh (January 28, 2020). "Women Lawmakers Take Aim at Climate Change". Maryland Matters. Retrieved June 12, 2022.
  19. DePuyt, Bruce (February 18, 2020). "Bay Bridge Advisory Panel Likely to Add Citizen Members". Maryland Matters. Retrieved June 12, 2022.
  20. Kurtz, Josh (January 28, 2021). "Senators Consider Sweeping Climate Bill — And More Modest Measures".
  21. Kurtz, Josh (February 9, 2022). "Here Are Three Smaller Climate Bills That Could Have a Big Impact". Maryland Matters. Retrieved June 12, 2022.
  22. Dance, Scott (April 22, 2022). "Maryland set to 'transform' its state park system amid record usage, making massive investment in rangers, new sites". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved June 12, 2022.
  23. "Legislation - HB0740". mgaleg.maryland.gov. Maryland General Assembly. Retrieved June 12, 2022.
  24. Gaines, Danielle (February 20, 2019). "Regents' Chairwoman Backs Reform Legislation for Embattled Board". Maryland Matters. Retrieved June 12, 2022.
  25. DePuyt, Bruce; Gaines, Danielle (April 5, 2019). "Legislative Roundup: Prescription Drugs, Regents, Kirwan and More". Maryland Matters. Retrieved June 12, 2022.
  26. "Legislation - SB0719". mgaleg.maryland.gov. Maryland General Assembly. Retrieved June 12, 2022.
  27. Leckrone, Bennett (January 19, 2021). "Disconnected: More Than a Half-Million Md. Homes Lack Reliable Broadband". Maryland Matters. Retrieved June 12, 2022.
  28. "Legislation - SB0066". mgaleg.maryland.gov. Maryland General Assembly. Retrieved June 12, 2022.
  29. Shwe, Elizabeth (February 18, 2021). "Lawmakers Considering How to Remake State's Environmental Justice Commission". Maryland Matters. Retrieved June 12, 2022.
  30. Shwe, Elizabeth (February 25, 2021). "In Environmental Justice Push, Lawmakers Look to Decrease Harmful Toxins and Reform Government Responses". Maryland Matters. Retrieved June 12, 2022.
  31. "Legislation - SB0674". mgaleg.maryland.gov. Maryland General Assembly. Retrieved June 12, 2022.
  32. Gaskill, Hannah (January 29, 2022). "Lawmakers Unveil Plan to Reintroduce Paid Family Leave Legislation". Maryland Matters. Retrieved June 12, 2022.
  33. Gaskill, Hannah (January 15, 2020). "Lawmakers Applaud Expanded Planned Parenthood Clinic in Annapolis". Maryland Matters. Retrieved June 12, 2022.
  34. Gaines, Danielle; Shwe, Elizabeth (May 3, 2022). "After Leak of Draft SCOTUS Opinion on Abortion Rights, Maryland Lawmakers and Candidates Pledge Action". Maryland Matters. Retrieved June 12, 2022.
  35. "Maryland Senator Wants to Honor 5 Killed at Newspaper Office". NBC Washington. Associated Press. February 3, 2019. Retrieved June 12, 2022.
  36. Broadwater, Luke (March 28, 2019). "Maryland General Assembly votes to name June 28 'Freedom of the Press Day' in honor of victims of Capital Gazette shooting". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved June 12, 2022.
  37. "Legislation - SJ0002". mgaleg.maryland.gov. Maryland General Assembly. Retrieved June 12, 2022.
  38. Fulginiti, Jenny (June 27, 2019). "June 28 named Freedom of the Press Day in Maryland". WBAL-TV. Retrieved June 12, 2022.
  39. Sanchez, Olivia (February 12, 2021). "Annapolis state senator pushes for free menstrual products in public schools statewide". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved June 12, 2022.
  40. "Legislation - SB0427". mgaleg.maryland.gov. Maryland General Assembly. Retrieved June 12, 2022.
  41. Shwe, Elizabeth (January 24, 2022). "'Great Maryland Outdoors Act' Aims to Bolster State Park System as Demand Grows". Maryland Matters. Retrieved June 12, 2022.
  42. James, Acacia (April 24, 2022). "Great Maryland Outdoors Act to invest millions into state park budget". WTOP-FM. Retrieved June 12, 2022.
  43. "Official 2018 Gubernatorial General Election results for State Senator". Maryland State Board of Elections.
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