HOUSE OF DELEGATES

[photo, Joseline A. Pena-Melnyk, Maryland State Delegate] JOSELINE A. PEÑA-MELNYK, Esq.
Democrat, District 21, Anne Arundel & Prince George's Counties


Member of House of Delegates since January 10, 2007. Chair, Health and Government Operations Committee, 2022- (member, 2007-, vice-chair, 2019-22; government operations subcommittee, 2007-14; public health & long-term care subcommittee, 2007-14; government operations & long-term care subcommittee, 2015-17; chair, public health & minority health disparities subcommittee, 2015-22; member, government operations & estates & trusts subcommittee, 2017-19; government operations & health facilities subcommittee, 2020-21; insurance & pharmaceuticals subcommittee, 2022-). Member, Rules and Executive Nominations Committee, 2019-; Legislative Policy Committee, 2019-; Joint Federal Action Oversight Committee, 2025-. House Chair, Joint Committee on Access to Mental Health Services, 2011-14. Member, Regional Revitalization Work Group, 2013-19; Joint Oversight Committee on the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange, 2014; Public Safety and Policing Work Group, 2015-16; Joint Committee on Behavioral Health and Opioid Use Disorders, 2015-21; Punitive Damages Work Group, 2016-17; Opioid Work Group, 2018. Chair, Affordable Care Act (ACA) Work Group, 2018. Member, Joint Covid-19 Response Legislative Work Group, 2020-21. Vice-Chair, House Cannabis Referendum and Legalization Work Group, 2021-23 (chair, health determinants subcommittee, 2021-23). Member, Anne Arundel County Delegation, 2007- (capital budget subcommittee, 2018). Member, Prince George's County Delegation, 2007- (vice-chair, law enforcement & state-appointed boards committee, 2007-08, member, 2015-; vice-chair, county affairs committee, 2008-10; chair, washington suburban sanitary commission committee, 2011-12; chair, bi-county committee, 2013-14; member, education committee, 2017-). Prince George's County Co-Chair, Bi-County Delegation, 2011-14. Member, Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland, 2007-; Women Legislators of Maryland, 2007-; Maryland Legislative Latino Caucus, 2014- (chair, 2014-17; treasurer, 2017-18; vice-chair, 2019-24); Maryland Veterans Caucus, 2016-; Maryland Military Installation Legislative Caucus, 2017-; Maryland Legislative Transit Caucus, 2019-. Associate member, Maryland Legislative Jewish Caucus, 2024-. Member, Executive Committee, National Hispanic Caucus, 2021- (past chair, east region).

Member, Task Force on Health Care Access and Reimbursement, 2007-08; Eastern Regional Conference, Council of State Governments, 2007- (co-chair, council on communities of color, 2017-). Task Force on the Preservation of Heritage Language Skills in Maryland, 2008-09. House Co-Chair, Task Force to Study the Procurement of Health and Social Services by State Agencies, 2009-10; Task Force to Study the Procurement of Health, Education, and Social Services by State Agencies, 2010-12; Governor's Wellmobile Program Advisory Board, 2011-. Presidential Elector, Maryland, 2012. Member, Virginia I. Jones Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Council, 2013-16; Governor's Commission to Reform Maryland's Pretrial System, 2014; Maryland Medicaid Advisory Committee, 2015-22. Co-Chair, Maryland Health Insurance Coverage Protection Commission, 2017-23. Member, Maryland State Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, 2019-.

Assistant U.S. Attorney, Office of U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, U.S. Department of Justice, 1997-99.

Member, City Council, College Park, representing District 4, 2003-06. Former member, Recreation Board, College Park.

Born in Dominican Republic, June 27, 1966. Attended John F. Kennedy High School, Bronx, New York; Buffalo State College, B.A. (criminal justice), 1987; University at Buffalo School of Law, State University of New York, J.D., 1991. Admitted to District of Columbia Bar, 1994; Pennsylvania Bar, 1994. Attorney, Defender Association of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1991-92. Maryland Public Policy Conflict Resolution Fellow, Center for Dispute Resolution, University of Maryland School of Law, 2008. Co-Chair, Latino Leadership Council, Maryland Democratic Party, 2010-. Delegate, Democratic Party National Convention, 2012, 2020, 2024. Member, National Academy of State Health Policy, 2022-24. Eastern Region Board of Directors, Women in Government. Member, North College Park Civic Association; West College Park Civic Association; College Park Rotary Club. Rising Legal Star, Hispanic Bar Association of the District of Columbia, 2007. Municipal Super Star, Maryland Municipal League, 2008 (certificate of appreciation, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011). Maryland's Top 100 Women, Daily Record, 2015, 2018, 2021 (Circle of Excellence). Outstanding Legislator of the Year, Maryland Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, 2017. Power 30 Health Care, Daily Record, 2021, 2023. Award, Autism Speaks, 2023. Humanitarian Award, Prestige Healthcare, 2023. Legislator of the Year, Maryland State Medical Society, 2023. Legislator of the Year, Maryland Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, 2023. Legislator of the Year, Maryland Hospital Association, 2023. Legislator of the Year, Maryland Association of Counties, 2023. Legislative All-Star, Maryland Realtors Association, 2023. Care Champion Award, Caring Across Maryland Coalition, 2023. Leadership Award, Maryland's Health Care for All, 2023. Maryland Impact Award, Maryland Nonprofits, 2023. Award for Autism, Latin Community Award, 2024. Corazon Comunitario Award, VineCorps, 2024. Married; three children.

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