Shaneka Henson

Shaneka Tarae Johnson (born July 29, 1983) is a Democratic member of the Maryland House of Delegates[5] appointed in May 2019 to replace the late Michael E. Busch.[6][7] In October 2019 House Speaker Adrienne A. Jones assigned Henson to serve on the appropriations committee led by Baltimore Democrat Del. Maggie McIntosh.

Shaneka T. Henson
Member of the Maryland House of Delegates
from the 30A district
Assumed office
May 16, 2019
Serving with Alice J. Cain and Dana Jones
Appointed byLarry Hogan
Preceded byMichael E. Busch
Member, Annapolis City Council, Ward 6
In office
December 4, 2017[1] – April 29, 2019[2]
Preceded byKenny Kirby[3]
Succeeded byDaJuan Gay[4]
Personal details
Born
Shaneka Tarae Henson

(1983-07-29) July 29, 1983
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseMarcus Johnson
Children1
Residence(s)Annapolis, Maryland, U.S.
EducationCoppin State University, B.S., University of Baltimore School of Law, J.D.
ProfessionAttorney

Henson was previously a member of the Annapolis City Council representing Ward 6 from December 4, 2017, to April 29, 2019.[5][8][1][2] In June 2017 Henson was endorsed by the Maryland League of Conservation Voters followed by a coveted endorsement from the Sierra Club Maryland Chapter in October 2017.[9][10]

Committee appointments

Henson's committee appointments have been Ways and Means Committee, 2023-; Joint Committee on Children, Youth, and Families, 2023-; Appropriations Committee, 2019-23.[5] Henson moved from Appropriations to Ways and Means in 2023, swapping assignments with Del. Dana Jones when questions were raised about a potential conflict of interest involving Henson's legal work for a nonprofit which received state funding.[11]

Legislation

In 2020, Henson sponsored a bill that took effect October 1, 2020, that would allow incarcerated parents to have their child support order frozen while behind bars if they are serving a jail sentence of six months or more. Prior to the law's passing, the threshold was 18 months.[12] Henson introduced a bill co-sponsored in the Maryland Senate by Democrat Sen. Sarah K. Elfreth that took effect October 1, 2020, to close a loophole in state law allowing the City of Annapolis to avoid the responsibility of inspecting and licensing public housing units like other rentals in the city.

In July 2020, Henson made a pitch to Maryland's congressional delegation for federal legislation to recognize racism as a public health trauma and to implement supports for her constituents and all Black Americans.[13]

Career

In 2020, Henson founded Johnson Legal Group, LLC, a law firm based in Annapolis, MD where she is Principal Legal Counsel. Henson previously worked as an attorney in the Maryland Office of Attorney General for Maryland Attorney General Doug Gansler from 2013 to 2014 and for Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh from 2014 to 2019.[14] Henson was previously an attorney for the YWCA of Annapolis and Anne Arundel County where she represented women and men fleeing domestic abuse.

Groups and Organizations

Henson is a member of the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland and Women's Caucus of Maryland. Henson is an alumni and supporter of Emerge Maryland, a statewide organization to recruit, train and empower Democrat women to run for office. Henson is a board member for Maryland Food Bank.

References
  1. "Buckley Sworn In As 137th Mayor of Annapolis". Annapolis, MD Patch. December 4, 2017. Retrieved May 20, 2019.
  2. Ohl, Danielle; Cook, Chase (May 6, 2019). "Gov. Hogan approves Speaker Busch's successor; dates set for Annapolis Ward 6 special election". The Capital. Retrieved May 20, 2019.
  3. Cook, Chase (October 8, 2016). "Q&A with Shaneka Henson, Ward 6 candidate". The Capital. Retrieved May 20, 2019.
  4. Harris, Naomi (July 8, 2019). "City Council swears in DaJuan Gay as the new Ward 6 alderman". The Capital. Retrieved January 10, 2020.
  5. "Shaneka T. Henson, Maryland State Delegate". Maryland Manual On-Line. Maryland State Archives. March 2, 2023. Retrieved March 6, 2023.
  6. Wood, Pamela (May 16, 2019). "Democrat Shaneka Henson of Annapolis sworn in to fill seat of late Maryland House Speaker Busch". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved May 20, 2019.
  7. "Maryland House of Delegates, Appointments by Governor to". Maryland Manual On-Line. Maryland State Archives. May 16, 2019. Retrieved May 20, 2019.
  8. "GAM-Delegate Henson Bio". Maryland General Assembly. March 19, 2020. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
  9. Cook, Chase (June 29, 2017). "Conservation league endorses five Annapolis council candidates in primary election". The Capital. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
  10. "The Sierra Club Endorsement for Mayor and City Council of Annapolis". Sierra Club. October 23, 2017. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
  11. Sears, Bryan P. (March 3, 2023). "House committees reshuffled as ethics questions arise". Maryland Matters. Retrieved March 6, 2023.
  12. Opilo, Emily (October 1, 2020). "From hairstyles to child support, these are some of the new Maryland laws going into effect Thursday". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
  13. Sanchez, Olivia (July 9, 2020). "Annapolis delegate makes pitch to congressional delegation for federal anti-racism legislation". The Capital. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
  14. "ATTORNEY | Johnson Legal Group, LLC". Retrieved October 5, 2020.


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