The Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland, Inc. (also known as The Maryland Legislative Black Caucus) is an American political organization composed of African Americans elected to the Maryland General Assembly. Incorporated in 1970, the Caucus membership has grown from 17 to 64 and is the largest state legislative black caucus in the country.
Founding The Caucus was incorporated in 1970 by Lena King Lee, then a member of the Maryland House of Delegates.
Role By drafting and sponsoring legislation to address constituent needs and by examining all bills that affect the Black populace, the Caucus acts as a legislative body on behalf of all African Americans in Maryland. Currently, of Maryland's 24 sub-divisions, only Baltimore City, Prince Georges, Baltimore, Montgomery, Howard and Charles, Wicomico Counties have elected members to the Maryland Black Caucus. So additionally the Caucus presents a Black perspective from the entire state to the Legislature and advocates public policies that promote Black social, cultural and economic progress, statewide. In addition, the Caucus serves as a research study group to generate pertinent data in support of appropriate public policies.
Current membership
Officers District Officers Position10Delegate N. Scott Phillips Chair40Senator Shaneka Henson 1st Vice-chair25Delegate Karen Toles 2nd Vice-chair40Delegate Marlon Amprey Treasurer26Delegate Jamila Woods Secretary43Senator Mary L. WashingtonFinancial Secretary24Senator Joanne C. Benson Chaplain45Delegate Stephanie M. Smith Parliamentarian43Senator Mary L. Washington Historian
Senators
DistrictCounty(s) representedMember SenatorPartyFirst electedCommittee8Baltimore County Carl W. Jackson Democratic2025Finance10Baltimore County Benjamin Brooks Democratic2022Education, Energy, and the Environment20Montgomery Will Smith Democratic2016Judicial Proceedings (Chair)22Prince George's Alonzo T. Washington Democratic2023Finance23Prince George's Ron Watson Democratic2021Education, Energy, and the Environment24Prince George's Joanne C. Benson Democratic2011Budget and Taxation25Prince George's Nick Charles Democratic2023Judicial Proceedings26Prince George's C. Anthony Muse Democratic2022Judicial Proceedings27Calvert, Charles, and Prince George's Kevin Harris Democratic2025Education, Energy, and the Environment28Charles Arthur Ellis Democratic2018Finance30Anne Arundel Shaneka Henson Democratic2025Judicial Proceedings40Baltimore Antonio Hayes Democratic2018Finance43Baltimore City and County Mary L. Washington Democratic2018Education, Energy, and the Environment44Baltimore County Charles E. Sydnor III Democratic2020Judicial Proceedings45Baltimore City Cory McCray Democratic2018Budget and Taxation47Prince George's Malcolm L. Augustine Democratic2018Education, Energy, and the Environment (President Pro Tem)
Delegates DistrictCounty representedMember DelegatePartyFirst electedCommittee8Baltimore CountyKim Ross Democratic2025Health10Baltimore County Adrienne A. Jones Democratic1997Appropriations10Baltimore County N. Scott Phillips Democratic2022Judiciary10Baltimore County Jennifer White Holland Democratic2022Health11ABaltimore County Cheryl Pasteur Democratic2022Ways & Means12AHoward Terri L. Hill Democratic2014Health12BAnne Arundel Gary Simmons Democratic2022Judiciary14Montgomery Pamela E. Queen Democratic2016Economic Matters14Montgomery Bernice Mireku-North Democratic2023Ways & Means19Montgomery Charlotte Crutchfield Democratic2018Government, Labor, & Elections20Montgomery Jheanelle Wilkins Democratic2017Originally appointed to office to fill an open seat, rather than elected.Ways & Means (Chair)21Anne Arundel andPrince George's Joseline Peña-Melnyk Democratic2006House Speaker22Prince George's Nicole A. Williams Democratic2019Judiciary22Prince George's Ashanti Martinez Democratic2023Health23Prince George's Marvin E. Holmes Jr. Democratic2002Environment & Transportation23Prince George's Adrian Boafo Democratic 2022Economic Matters23Prince George's Kym Taylor Democratic 2022Judiciary24Prince George's Tiffany T. Alston Democratic2022Health24Prince George's Andrea Harrison Democratic2018Appropriations24Prince George's Derrick Coley Democratic2026Ways & Means25Prince George's Kent Roberson Democratic2023Ways & Means25Prince George's Denise Roberts Democratic2024Economic Matters25Prince George's Karen Toles Democratic2022Appropriations26Prince George's Jamila Woods Democratic2022Judiciary26Prince George's Veronica L. Turner Democratic2018Economic Matters27APrince George's andCharles Darrell Odom Democratic2026Environment & Transportation27BCalvert andPrince George's Jeffrie Long Jr. Democratic2023Environment & Transportation28Charles C. T. Wilson Democratic2010Government, Labor, & Elections28Charles Edith J. Patterson Democratic2014Ways & Means28Charles Debra Davis Democratic2018Judiciary (Vice Chair)32Anne Arundel J. Sandy Bartlett Democratic2018Judiciary (Chair)32Anne Arundel Mike Rogers Democratic2018Economic Matters34AAnne Arundel Andre Johnson Jr. Democratic2022Economic Matters37ADorchester andWicomicoSheree Sample-Hughes Democratic2014Government, Labor, & Elections39Montgomery Gabriel Acevero Democratic2018Appropriations39Montgomery W. Gregory Wims Democratic2023Ways & Means40Baltimore City Frank M. Conaway Jr. Democratic2006Judiciary40Baltimore City Melissa Wells Democratic2018Government, Labor, & Elections (Chair)40Baltimore City Marlon Amprey Democratic2021Economic Matters41Baltimore City Malcolm Ruff Democratic2023Appropriations41Baltimore City Sean Stinnett Democratic2025Appropriations43ABaltimore City Regina T. Boyce Democratic2018Environment & Transportation44BBaltimore County Aletheia McCaskill Democratic2022Appropriations45Baltimore City Caylin Young Democratic2022Ways & Means45Baltimore CityJackie Addison Democratic2022Ways & Means45Baltimore CityStephanie M. Smith Democratic2018Appropriations46Baltimore City Robbyn Lewis Democratic2017Environment & Transportation47APrince George's Diana M. Fennell Democratic2015Economic Matters47APrince George's Julian Ivey Democratic2019Appropriations47BPrince George's Deni Taveras Democratic2023Health
History
The Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland was formed in 1970 as the Maryland Legislative Black Caucus. The Caucus has increased from it original membership of 17 to its present membership of 64. From its inception to the 1990s, only Prince George's County and Baltimore City had sent members to the Caucus. The present membership of the Legislative Black Caucus now includes elected representatives from Baltimore, Montgomery, and Charles counties as well as the Eastern Shore of Maryland.
Former chairs
List of Chairpersons of the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland: Chamber Name Tenure CountyDelegateArthur King1970–1972Prince George's Delegate Lloyal Randolph1972–1975Baltimore CitySenatorRobert Douglas1976–1978Baltimore City DelegateArthur G. Murphy Sr.1978Baltimore CitySenatorRobert Douglas1978–1980Baltimore CityDelegateFrank Conaway Sr.1981–1982Baltimore CitySenatorClarence W. Blount1982–1984Baltimore CityDelegate Elijah Cummings1984–1985Baltimore CitySenator Decatur "Bucky" Trotter1986–1988Prince George'sDelegate Curt Anderson1988–1990Baltimore CityDelegate Christine M. Jones1991–1992Prince George'sDelegateJohn D. Jefferies1992–1994Baltimore CityDelegate Joanne C. Benson1995–1996Prince George'sSenatorLarry Young1996–1997Baltimore CityDelegate Carolyn J. B. Howard1998–2000Prince George'sDelegate Talmadge Branch2000–2002Baltimore CityDelegateObie Patterson2002–2004Prince George'sDelegate Rudolph C. Cane2004–2006WicomicoSenator Verna L. Jones2006–2008Baltimore CityDelegate Veronica L. Turner2008–2010Prince George'sSenator Catherine Pugh2010–2012Baltimore CityDelegate Aisha N. Braveboy2012–2014Prince George'sDelegate Barbara A. Robinson2014–2016Baltimore CityDelegate Cheryl Glenn2016–2018Baltimore CityDelegate Darryl Barnes2018–2022Prince George'sDelegate Jheanelle Wilkins2022–2026Montgomery
2007 legislation During the 2007 session of the Maryland General Assembly the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland pushed several bills through both Houses and had them signed into law. One of which was a bill that required state contractors to pay their employees a "living wage." For fiscal year 2008, the living wage is set at $11.30 in Montgomery, Prince George's, Howard, Anne Arundel and Baltimore Counties and Baltimore City. It is set at $8.50 for all other areas of the State. Additionally, the Caucus pushed for SB 488. This bill allows an individual convicted of any crime, with the exception of buying or selling votes, to register to vote if not actually serving a court-ordered sentence of imprisonment, including any term of parole or probation, for a felony conviction. Another Caucus bill, SB 543-2007 Darfur Protection Act-Divestiture from the Republic of Sudan, requires the Board of Trustees of the State Retirement and Pension System to encourage companies hold actively traded accounts in its portfolio that conduct business in Sudan to act responsibly and avoid actions that promote or enable human rights violations in Sudan. Additionally, the Caucus pushed for Senate Joint resolution 6 which requires the state to express regret for the role that Maryland played in instituting and maintaining slavery and for the discrimination that was slavery's legacy. The Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland also supported the creation of state debt for funding towards the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial in Washington D.C., leading to a $500,000 donation () to the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Foundation.
2009 legislation During the 2009 session of the Maryland General Assembly, the following Caucus general priorities were passed: SB 186- Correctional Facilities-Released Inmates-Identification Cards Sponsored by Senator Catherine Pugh. This bill will require the Commissioner of Correction to issue an identification card to an inmate before being released from confinement in a State Correctional facility. The identification card must comply with the requirements for secondary identification for the purpose of an identification card issued by the Motor Vehicle Administration.
SB 489- Minority Business Enterprise Certification-Cap on Personal Net Worth Sponsored by Senator Catherine Pugh. This bill requires that the personal net worth cap for eligibility in the State's Minority Business Enterprise program be adjusted annually according to the Consumer Price Index. Personal net worth does not include up to $500,000 of the cash value of any qualified retirement savings plan or individual retirement account. The Maryland Department of Transportation, in consultation with the Attorney General's office and specified legislative committees must evaluate whether the personal net worth cap should be further adjusted, and report its findings to the General Assembly by December 1, 2010.
SB 568-Minority Business Enterprise Program-Directory of Minority Business Enterprise Sponsored by Senator Catherine Pugh. This bill requires the Maryland Department of Transportation to include in its directory of Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs) a list of all MBEs that are ineligible to participate in the State's MBE program because (1) one or more of its owners has a personal net worth that exceeds the statutory cap; or (2) the MBE no longer qualifies as a small business under federal guidelines.
HB 637- Task Force on Prisoner Reentry Sponsored by Delegate Gerron Levi, this emergency bill establishes a Task Force on Prisoner Reentry. The Secretary of Public Safety and Correctional Services, or the Secretary's designee, must chair the task force and provide staff support for the taskforce from the Department. An interim report to the Governor and the General Assembly is required by December 31, 2010 and final report of findings and recommendation is required by December 31, 2011.