HOUSE OF DELEGATES

FORMER DELEGATES

[photo, Sheila E. Hixson, Maryland State Delegate] SHEILA ELLIS HIXSON (1933-2022)
Democrat, District 20, Montgomery County


Member of House of Delegates, January 14, 1976 to January 9, 2019. Member, Environmental Matters Committee, 1976-86. Chair, Ways and Means Committee, 1993-2017 (member, 1987-93; chair emeritus, 2017-19). Member, Joint Committee on Legislative Ethics, 1979; Protocol Committee, 1980-88; Rules and Executive Nominations Committee, 1993-2019; Spending Affordability Committee, 1993-2019. Member, Joint Task Force on Maryland's Procurement Law, 1993-94; Joint Protocol Committee, 1993-98; Joint Audit Committee (formerly Budget and Audit Committee), 1993-2011; Legislative Policy Committee, 1993-2017 (management subcommittee, 1993-2003); Joint Transportation Financing Committee (Transportation 2000), 1994; Joint Committee on State Economic Development Initiatives, 1995-96; Joint Committee on the Selection of the State Treasurer, 1996. House Chair, Joint Committee on Federal Relations, 1987-92; Advisory Commission on Federal-State-Local Relations, 1987-92; Special Joint Task Force on Transportation, 1995. Chair, Special Joint Committee on Competitive Taxation and Economic Development, 1996-97. Co-Chair, Special Committee on Gaming, 2001. Member, Speaker's Advisory Committee on Legislative Redistricting, 2001-02; Joint Committee on the Selection of the State Treasurer, 2002; Joint Legislative Work Group to Study State, County and Municipal Fiscal Relationships, 2009-10. Member, Economic Development Committee, Montgomery County Delegation, 2015-19 (county affairs committee, 2007-14; former member, bi-county committee). Member, Women Legislators of Maryland, 1976-2019 (president, 1992-93); Maryland Bicycle and Pedestrian Caucus, 2003-19. Member, National Conference of State Legislatures (streamline sales tax implementing states committee, 2002-03; budgets & revenue committee, 2003-19; executive committee, 2006-07; chair, fiscal affairs committee, 2001-02); Southern Legislative Conference (fiscal affairs & government operations committee, chair, 2001-02).

Member, Forest Land Task Force, 1981-84; Mosquito Control Committee, 1982-83; Governor's Task Force on Time-Sharing, 1983-84; Task Force on Child Abuse and Neglect, 1983-85; Governor's Council on Child Abuse and Neglect, 1986-99; Work Force Investment Board, 1988-95; Governor's Commission on Competitive Forces Facing Maryland's Horse-Racing Industry, 1994; Joint Executive-Legislative Task Force to Study Commercial Gaming Activities in Maryland, 1995; Task Force on Education Funding Equity, Accountability, and Partnerships, 1997-98; Task Force to Study Retail Electric Competition and the Restructuring of the Electric Utility Industry, 1997-98; Commission to Study Ways to Improve the Financial Viability of the Racing Industry, 1997-99; Commission on Transportation Investment, 1999; Commission on Education Finance, Equity, and Excellence, 1999-2002; Transit Policy Panel, 2000; Special Commission to Study Sexual Orientation Discrimination in Maryland, 2000-01; Southern Regional Education Board, 2001-03; Commission on Maryland's Fiscal Structure, 2002-03; Task Force to Study Public School Facilities, 2002-04; Task Force to Study the Maryland Heritage Structure Rehabilitation Tax Credit Program, 2003; Transit Funding Study Steering Committee, 2006-07; Commission on Civic Literacy, 2007-12; Maryland Business Tax Reform Commission, 2008-10; Legislative Advisory Council, 2008-19, Southern Regional Education Board; College Success Task Force, P-20 Leadership Council of Maryland, 2009-10; Work Group to Consider Gaming Expansion, 2012. Co-Chair, Commission on the Establishment of a Maryland Educators Service Memorial, 2013-16.

Born in L'Anse, Michigan, February 9, 1933. Attended L'Anse, Michigan, public schools; Northern State Teachers College, B.A. (social work). Head Start teacher, Detroit, Michigan, 1960-62. Campaign manager and aide to U.S. Representative William D. Ford of Michigan, 1964-67. Administrative assistant, Democratic National Committee. Member, Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee, 1974-76. Director of Congressional Relations, Environmental Industrial Association, 1993. President, The Hixson Group, 2002. Board of Directors, Hearts and Homes for Youth, 2003-; Pyramid Atlantic, 2003-. Member, National Capital Democratic Club; Women's National Democratic Club; Women's Suburban Democratic Club; Eastern Montgomery, Kensington, Wheaton Democratic Club. Member, Plowmen & Fishermen; National Organization for Women (NOW); National Professional and Business Women's Organization; National Association of Sunday School Instructors. Legislator Recognition Award, Maryland Association of Counties, 1984, 1996. Maryland's Top 100 Women, Daily Record, 2000, 2007, 2009 (Circle of Excellence). John R. Hargreaves Distinguished Legislative Fellow Award, Institute for Public Affairs and Civic Engagement, Salisbury University, 2006. Certificate of Appreciation, Maryland Municipal League, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011. Dr. Nancy S. Grasmick Leadership Award in Early Care and Education, Maryland Family Network, 2015. Casper R. Taylor, Jr. Founder's Award, House of Delegates, 2017. Divorced; four children. Died in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, November 6, 2022.

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