Dear Friends,

Last week, we had the opportunity to participate in a joint session of the General Assembly for the Governor’s State of the State address, during which he outlined his legislative agenda. He emphasized the need for legislative solutions to address the affordability challenges facing Marylanders as they struggle to pay for food, housing, and health care, and he expressed his frustration with the current state of redistricting.

As you may be aware, the Governor and the House have supported a redistricting plan in direct response to the President’s decision to encourage Republican-led states to pursue mid-cycle redistricting in an effort to forestall expected Democratic gains in the midterm elections. For a variety of reasons—including the unique aspects of Maryland’s redistricting history, constitutional requirements, and timing—the Senate President has been clear in his opposition to a mid-cycle effort to redraw congressional maps. I have stated publicly that I would support a new map if given the opportunity to vote on one; however, it appears highly unlikely that the Senate will consider the House bill.

Another important focus of the Governor’s speech—and of our legislative activity during these first few weeks of session—has been the overreach of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency. You can read more about bills that directly respond to ICE activity across the country, as well as here in Maryland, in the Legislative Update section below.

We are now nearly one-third of the way through the session, and bill hearings and budget hearings are fully underway. As we do year-round, we continue working to resolve constituents’ issues with state agencies. Recently, we have helped secure heat for a freezing home where a resident was ill; obtain the return of delayed funds to taxpayers; and ensure that children struggling with mental illness receive the medications they depend on when insurance barriers delay their doctors’ prescribed treatment. These are just a few examples of how we serve our community. If we can be of assistance to you, please do not hesitate to reach out. And be sure to follow us on social media for regular and timely updates on our legislative agenda.

Shelly L. Hettleman
Senator, District 11

In the Community
Legislative Updates
Immigration Updates
In the News
Senatorial Scholarship
Intern Spotlight
Energy/Environment Updates
Education News
Transportation Updates
Community Events & Updates
Contact Information

Top Left: Many thanks to all of the District 11 community members who joined us for our District 11 Night—it was wonderful to connect with all of you! Special thanks to Owings Mills High School choir for their amazing performance and to our teams for their hard work in coordinating such a successful event.

Top Right: I had a wonderful time meeting with so many constituents for Jewish Advocacy Day and discussing some of the Baltimore Jewish Caucus’s priorities together.

Bottom Left: It’s been great connecting with so many constituent groups over these past few week including the Sierra Club, occupational therapists, members of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, American Federation of Teachers, the American Cancer Society, and the Maryland Commission for Women.

Bottom Right: It was wonderful to testify alongside Baltimore County librarians before the Senate Finance Committee in support of my bill with Delegate Cathi Forbes, which would enable supervisory workers to organize—just like all other state supervisory library workers. The bill was voted out of committee and will be on the Senate floor this week!

I remain very concerned about the safety of our immigrant community—and frankly, the safety of us all—in the face of recent actions by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Both the Senate and the House are advancing legislation to strengthen oversight and accountability to establish consistent standards for how organizations like ICE can operate in Maryland. Senate Bill 1 would ban law enforcement from wearing face-masks to conceal their identities while on duty (except in limited situations), while Senate Bill 245 would prohibit local law enforcement from entering 287(g) agreements with ICE. Together, these measures aim to promote transparency and help build greater trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve. Both have passed the General Assembly and are awaiting the Governor's signature.

We recently learned about efforts by ICE to lease land and office space in Baltimore County, and we have been working with our local partners to restrict these efforts. We are also pursuing policy changes at the state level to ensure that if ICE were to create a detention center here through the purchase of private property, that we impose health and safety regulations to protect the safety of those detained.

Linked below are some recent news articles I was featured in (many of which discuss my legislative initiatives):

Marking the 200th Anniversary of the So-Called ‘Jew Bill’

Public Defender’s Office legislative priorities include more funding, more equitable sentencing

School background checks are law, but educators slip through the cracks, audit finds

For more information, please visit here.

Over the next few newsletters, we'll be highlighting one of our office's interns/staff members, whose hard work and support are greatly appreciated!

Help with Energy Bills

As we head into the winter months, and temperatures around the region continue to plunge, we want to share a few simple ways to save energy and reduce utility costs this winter. The Maryland Energy Advocates Coalition has many useful tips to help consumers navigate these issues.

Lowering your thermostat by just a couple of degrees, sealing drafts around windows and doors, and using LED lighting can make a noticeable difference on your monthly bills. Some households may also qualify for energy assistance programs that help with heating costs, weatherization services, or appliance upgrades. Check out BGE's energy-saving rebates, and low cost home energy checkups. Available energy assistance may be explored by visiting the OHEP website.

Staying warm shouldn’t break the bank—click on these resources and programs that can help you save 10% on your energy bill in 15 min. or less. Keep your home comfortable and your costs manageable all season long.

BGE winter preparedness and updates can be found here.

For more information, please visit here.

Maryland Making It Easier to Plug in Your Ride, No Matter Where You Reside

The Maryland Energy Administration today announced the opening of the application window for funding through the Fiscal Year 2026 Community Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment Grant Program. These grants support the installation of charging stations at multi-family dwellings, commercial centers and other public points of interest to make the benefits of EV ownership accessible to more Marylanders.

Funds are provided to help applicants offset EV supply equipment installation costs for Level 2 and Level 3 chargers.

Most applicants are eligible for maximum grants of $750,000. School districts and local governments are eligible for up to $1 million.

The deadline for applications is February 25, 2026 at 3:00 PM ET.