Delegate Emily Shetty

Debate has begun on HB488. This legislation would enact a new Congressional Map for 2026 and contains a Constitutional Amendment which would go to the voters authorizing the 2026 map to be used for the rest of the census period (2028, 2030 elections). The bill also clarifies one constitutional provision on redistricting and makes a change to the constitution regarding Maryland Supreme Court jurisdiction.

See below for a description of each provision.

1. A New Map for 2026 Congressional Elections - This emergency bill implements a congressional map based on the Governor’s Redistricting Advisory Commission (GRAC) concept recommendation. Minor adjustments were made to the GRAC map to ensure every district had perfect population balance.

2. A Referendum on Using the New Map in 2028 & 2030 - The bill also contains a constitutional amendment that would ensure full public input and approval to maintain this map for the 2028 and 2030 elections. If the voters reject the map, we would return to using the current Congressional map until the next census.

3. Reaffirming the Maryland Constitution Doesn’t Govern Congressional Redistricting - HB488 clarifies that redistricting guidelines in Article III Section IV of the Maryland Constitution only apply to General Assembly districts, precisely as the text of that section already says. Thus closing the door on further misinterpretation by recent courts on this question.

4. Expediting Review of Congressional Districts by the Supreme Court of Maryland - Lastly, this bill gives the General Assembly the power to expedite review of congressional districts directly to the Maryland Supreme Court, rather than waiting for lengthy appeals.

Watch live on the Maryland General Assembly’s website.

Sending love and cheer to all during this holiday season! We had a fantastic Christmas with family, playing games, exchanging gifts, and enjoying yummy treats. Wishing you all a holiday season and new year filled with happiness and peace!

Much will be said today, over the next few weeks, and throughout Maryland's future about the important role and history built on the shoulders of Speaker Adrienne Jones. Today she announced her decision to step down from her leadership role, and I'm filled with so many thoughts and emotions about her announcement.

Many know and can name the huge number of big legislative wins that have happened under her leadership, as well as her many years of public service to our state. It has been a true honor to work closely with her as part of her leadership team over the last three years. She has led our caucus, chamber and state through historic investments in child care and education, has made our communities safer through landmark police reform and public safety initiatives, and has markedly improved our own chamber's public accessibility and transparency, which has led to more democratic processes and truly better public policies. She is the reason that access to reproductive care is a constitutional right in our state. Our entire state owes her a debt of gratitude for her lifetime of dedicated public service.

And while I will forever be grateful to have been able to have a front row seat to all of these and so many more legislative wins, I will remember her for her quiet, kind and compassionate leadership. She has nurtured and mentored so many current and future leaders in our state. She never said no to stopping her extremely busy day to say hello to our families when visiting Annapolis. Her strength, calm and consistent demeanor steadied our chamber during historically challenging and chaotic times. I am so personally grateful to have witnessed and learned from her. Every single year when I've had the privilege of casting a vote to support her as my Speaker, I quietly shed a small tear of gratitude. And I will forever be full of nothing but love for every lesson, every piece of legislation, every negotiation, and every personal sacrifice she has made in service to our state.

This is a very big deal for the 680,000 Marylanders who currently receive nutrition assistance benefits that have been denied by the federal government due to the shut down. By way of update for those not following closely -

- snap benefits were set to expire Nov 1 due to the shut down
- 680,000 Marylanders receive these benefits averaging $180/pp per month. In D18 alone there are almost 8,000 people enrolled and affected
- House Appropriations held a hearing last week with Senate budget and tax on this issue
- the next day Gov Moore declared a state of emergency and announced $10M for food banks statewide
- the day after, a lawsuit filed by MD AG Brown and 24 others across the country ruled that the feds must issue these benefits from a contingency fund set aside for this purpose
- today the feds announced 50% of the benefits would be covered by federal dollars
- Gov Moore announced that the balance would be covered using state reserve funds.

This means that for the month of November, while the shut down continues, Marylanders will not have to go hungry. Proud to be part of a state that cares for its people. Thank you Madame Speaker, Governor Moore and my own committee chair, Chairman Ben Barnes for your leadership.

Please view my statement on today’s SNAP benefits update.

A student asked me last night how I balance all the things going on, and it made me reflect on the last couple weeks. Here’s a summary of part of it as I eat 5-day old leftover pizza in my car in between meetings and classes-

- joined my awesome district-mate Del. Jared Solomon to present testimony at the Road Show in Montgomery county

- hosted my sons 10th bday party!

- toured Western MD with the House Appropriations committee

- spent a weekend with my sister and her family here doing lots of silly, fun things

What you can’t see -

- late nights catching up on grading, emails from students and constituents
- dozens of in person and zoom meetings with advocates, legislators and agencies to find solutions to supporting our communities through the federal shutdown
- missed events and meetings due to work or parenting obligations

Wouldn’t change a single thing. I’m so grateful to get to do this work.

Thank you for another amazing Labor Day parade, festival and art show! It was an absolutely gorgeous day to see our beautiful community to celebrate !

Lots of big feelings today for the first day of 4th grade! Wishing all students, teachers, bus drivers, cafeteria and custodial staff and families a very happy first day of school, no matter how they’re feeling about it!!

Join me on June 17th to support an absolutely incredible friend and public servant who is running for states attorney in Prince George’s County!

I served with Wanika in my first term in the general assembly and was so incredibly lucky to sit next to her on the hardest working committee, House Judiciary, where I watched her lead endless fights to make our justice system work for the people.

After that she has served as a councilmember in her home county, and don’t more incredible things that I’ve been excited to cheer on from afar!

Now she’s running for states attorney and we need her in that role! She is hard working, dedicated, cares deeply about her community and is everything you’d want in a public servant and more!

If you’re in MoCo that night, stop by! If not, donate what you’re able! She’s just the best.