Speaker Peña-Melnyk establishes changes to MD House leadership

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House Speaker Joseline Peña-Melnyk announced shakeups among committee leadership, officially staking her claim over the inner workings of her chamber.

“There’s never been a more important time to come together and move forward. Tens of thousands of Marylanders are out of work because of the federal cuts. We face new challenges with infrastructure, energy, and affordability,” Peña-Melnyk, D-Anne Arundel and Prince George’s, said in a statement earlier this week. “Strong and thoughtful leadership is required, and I cannot do it alone.”

Peña-Melnyk was unanimously elected to lead the Maryland General Assembly‘s House chamber last month after Adrienne A. Jones, D-Baltimore County, announced she was stepping down as House speaker. 

Jones remains a member of the House, where she represents Baltimore County‘s 10th district.

One of the biggest changes Peña-Melnyk has implemented to date is the creation of the House Labor, Elections and Government Committee, splitting off the duty of legislating governmental regulatory matters from the former House Health and Government Operations Committee, which she previously headed.

Del. Melissa Wells, D-Baltimore City, will chair the Labor, Elections and Government Committee; Del. Ken Kerr, D-Frederick, will serve as her vice chair. The House Health Committee will now be chaired by Del. Heather Bagnall, D-Anne Arundel; Del. Bonnie Cullison, D-Montgomery, will remain in her position as the committee’s vice chair.

Former Judiciary Committee Chair Luke Clippinger, D-Baltimore City, will now serve as the House Speaker Pro Tem. Peña-Melnyk promoted Vice Chair Sandy Bartlett, D-Anne Arundel, to lead the committee; Del. Debra Davis, D-Charles, will serve as the committee’s vice chair.

Peña-Melnyk opted to have House Appropriations Committee Chair Ben Barnes, D-Anne Arundel and Prince George’s, remain at the helm of his committee; Del. Anne Kaiser, D-Montgomery, will serve as vice chair.

Similarly, House Environment and Transportation Committee Chair Marc Korman, D-Montgomery, will continue to hold his position; Del. Michele Guyton, D-Baltimore County, will be the committee’s vice chair.

The House Economic Matters Committee will be headed by Del. Kriselda Valderrama, D-Prince George’s; Del. Lorig Charkoudian, D-Montgomery, will serve as vice chair. Del. C.T. Wilson, D-Charles, who headed the committee since 2021, was tapped to serve as the House parliamentarian.

Del. Jheanelle Wilkins, D-Montgomery, was selected to chair the House Ways and Means Committee, where she formerly served as vice chair.

“I am deeply grateful to Speaker Joseline Peña-Melnyk for her trust and confidence in my leadership and policy expertise,” Wilkins said in a statement Monday. “It is an honor to chair a committee that plays such a central role in our state’s future. I look forward to leading with inclusion, fairness, and a strong commitment to delivering results for Maryland families.”

Del. Jessica Feldmark, D-Howard, will vice chair the Ways and Means Committee.

Leadership in the House Rules Committee was unchanged. Del. Veronica Turner, D-Prince George’s, will remain in her position as the chair of the Protocol Committee, and Del. Denise Roberts, D-Prince George’s, will serve as vice chair.

Peña-Melnyk chose to maintain Del. David Moon, D-Montgomery, as the House majority leader. Del. Ashanti Martinez, D-Prince George’s, will serve as the majority whip.

In a statement, Peña-Melnyk said she is committed to prioritizing “Maryland’s greater good without getting mired in petty party politics,” pledging to meet weekly with House Minority Leader Jason Buckel, R-Allegany.

Acknowledging that “Western Maryland, the Eastern Shore, and Southern Maryland are not always at the table” regarding policy decisions, Buckel and Peña-Melnyk have agreed to establish the House of Delegates Rural Caucus, which she said will “have a direct relationship” with her office.

“Consistent with my reputation, I will speak the truth but I will also listen with respect to different points of view,” Peña-Melnyk said. “Ultimately my role is to bring people together to get things done for the 6.3 million people who live here, and the generations to come that will inherit the decisions that we make.”