Delegate Shaneka Henson speaking on the house floor.

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Shaneka Henson makes history as first Black woman to represent Anne Arundel in Maryland Senate

January 8, 2025

Shaneka Henson was sworn into the District 30 seat in the Maryland Senate hours before the General Assembly convened Wednesday, making history as the first Black woman to represent Anne Arundel County in the Senate.

Friends, family and lawmakers witnessed the ceremony in the Senate chamber for Henson, who was recommended to fill the vacant seat in a 10-9 vote by the Anne Arundel County Democratic Central Committee and appointed by Gov. Wes Moore.

The seat was previously held by Sarah Elfreth, who vacated the position and was sworn in last week as the representative for Maryland’s 3rd Congressional District.

“I want to uplift every woman in Anne Arundel County who was capable and able to do this job, but by way of their gender, by factor of the color of their skin, they were overlooked and weren’t given opportunities for decades and decades and generations and generations,” Henson said after taking the oath of office Wednesday. “I am so thankful to live in a time where you can be judged by your qualifications and not disqualified by those characteristics that you cannot change.”

Lawmaker Delegate Shaneka Henson propose Maryland Online Child Protection Act to shield minors from obscene content

February 21, 2024

BALTIMORE -- More than 68% of youth reported exposure to online pornography, according to the National Institute of Health.

Experts say exposure to this kind of material at an early age can cause psychological and even physical harm. However, Maryland lawmakers have proposed a solution to protect children from this harmful content.

The Maryland Online Child Protection Act would mandate safety settings on phones, tablets, and game devices marketed to minors, that would automatically block obscene content.

"A lot of people think that it just stops there, but it doesn't," said De' Asia Wiggins, a survivor of online trafficking.

For De'Asia Wiggins - who lost her mother when she was just 11 - being exposed to pornography while she was in foster care, led to unwanted real-life encounters.

Annapolis Delegate leads charge for colleges to reimburse those with mental illness

February 10, 2024

ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Cameron Carden’s college career started like many others – excited about the prospects and freedom universities bring. “I’m a very social person so I fit in with the football team and the athletic department and everything,” said Carden.

Within a few weeks, things changed when racial slurs were slapped on the walls of one of the buildings, he attended class in. The racial slur filled phrase threatened harm against Black students at the university.

“It was so terrifying because you know I’m three hours from my house and I’m by myself,” said Carden.

During a weekend visit from his parents his mother, Gay Green-Carden, noticed a change in her son.

“It was terrifying for me to see my son in a situation like that,” said Gay Green-Carden.

Bill introduced to support mental health among Maryland college students

January 22, 2024

ANNAPOLIS, MD | Delegate Shaneka Henson (D-Anne Arundel County) has reintroduced the Cameron Carden Act of 2024 in this year's Maryland Legislative Session. The Cameron Carden Act mandates that public colleges and universities in Maryland adopt policies allowing students to withdraw and be reimbursed for tuition and fees due to mental health crises.

The Act is named in honor of Cameron Carden, a former student of the University System of Maryland, who faced racial discrimination on campus leading to anxiety, depression, and withdrawal from school. When Mr. Carden left the university, his family was denied reimbursement for tuition and fees under current policies. The incidents that contributed to Mr. Carden’s struggles involved racial slurs spray painted on dorm walls twice during his time at Salisbury.

After working diligently towards his college degree, the mental distress from the harassment caused too significant of a crisis for him to continue attending. In an emotional 2023 testimony, Mr. Carden’s mother recounted her son’s painful journey and how the denied reimbursement prolonged his suffering when support was most pressing.

Supporting Pregnant & Parenting Students is a Moral Imperative

February 27, 2024

In the corridors of our state’s universities, amid the bustling crowds of eager learners, there exists a silent struggle — one often overlooked and underestimated. It’s the struggle of pregnant and parenting students, who, while navigating the rigors of academia, also bear the weight of parenthood on their shoulders. Their journey is one of resilience, courage, and unwavering determination, yet it is also fraught with challenges and barriers that threaten to derail their dreams.

I have a deep understanding of the unique challenges and obstacles that pregnant and parenting students face. My personal journey began during my sophomore year in undergraduate school, at a university on Maryland’s rural Eastern Shore. Concerned by a delayed menstrual cycle, I sought guidance at the on-campus health center. There, a kind-hearted nurse offered me a pregnancy test. Moments later, she returned with life-changing news: the test was positive — I was pregnant. In that moment, a flood of thoughts overwhelmed me, as I realized I was more than 100 miles away from my family, support system, and regular healthcare providers — separated from the resources I needed to plan my next steps.

"The only way to effectively approach public safety is to take it personally, because this is our community."

Del. Shaneka Henson

November 2, 2022

Delegate Shaneka Henson at an ADP event.

Shaneka Henson has worked tirelessly as delegate and sponsored, co-sponsored or supported with my vote 24 legislative acts aimed specifically at making communities safer.

Delegate Shaneka Henson at a ribbon cutting ceremony.

June 23, 2022

Pennrose and the Housing Authority of the City of Annapolis (HACA) celebrated the grand opening of Wilbourn Estates. This years-long effort culminated in transforming the former Newtowne 20 public housing site into brand-new affordable housing. The revitalization includes 78 high-quality apartments, a 3,500 SF community clubhouse, and passive and active recreation spaces.

What’s in the Budget for Annapolis & AACO?

A Session 2022 Recap
April 12, 2022

Session 2022 was a year of working together. Check out my session recap for updates and highlights.

Eviction Moratorium Ended, MVA Changes & More

March 4, 2022

Get the latest on grants and community resources.

Watch Delegate Henson Share Her Family History

February 21, 2022

Delegate Henson shares her family’s compelling history in Maryland.

Watch the Video

Your Body, Your Rights

October 2, 2021

On October 2, 2021, with tears in her eyes Del. Shaneka Henson passionately spoke about protecting women’s right to choose. In the wake of the SCOTUS’ imminent overturn of Roe v. Wade, Del. Shaneka Henson voted to authorize $3.8 Million for training new and existing abortion care providers in Maryland.

Del. Shaneka Henson voted to protect Medicaid funding for abortion care when Delegate Ghrist (R- Caroline) pulled it out for a separate vote at 1:44:00 in the live-streamed voting session. Del. Shaneka Henson voted again to protect abortion care funding when Delegate Rose (R- Carroll) offered an amendment to strip abortion funding from SB290 on a floor.

Delegate Shaneka Henson voted to send a choice to the ballot, to give all Marylanders the chance to engraft women’s bodily autonomy in MD’s constitution. Unfortunately, the MD Senate refused the bill, authored by Speaker Adrienne Jones, and stopped it from being added to the 2022 ballot for referendum.