Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson announced a slate of leadership and committee changes ahead of the 2027 General Assembly session.

Senator Brian Feldman will become majority leader and chief of policy, an expanded role focused on legislative strategy and oversight. Feldman will step down as chair of the Senate Education, Energy, and the Environment Committee and instead serve ex officio on all four standing policy committees. He may attend hearings as needed and cast a vote in committee to break a tie.

Feldman will also chair the reconstituted Senate Rules and Operations Committee, with President Pro Tem Malcolm Augustine serving as vice chair. The committee will have expanded jurisdiction over late-filed legislation, along with original jurisdiction over specified issues that cross committee lines and matters involving State government organization and procedures.

Senator Dawn Gile will take over as chair of the Education, Energy, and the Environment Committee, with Senator Ben Brooks serving as vice chair. Brooks will leave his current post as chair of the Executive Nominations Committee.

Senator Antonio Hayes will chair the Senate Finance Committee, with Senator Katie Fry Hester serving as vice chair. Finance handles health care, insurance, labor, business regulation, and economic development and will also take primary jurisdiction over artificial intelligence legislation. Hayes will be the first Black man to chair the committee.

Senator Cory McCray will become vice chair of the Budget and Taxation Committee. Senator Alonzo Washington will chair the Executive Nominations Committee, taking over the post Brooks is leaving.

Senator Mary Washington will become majority whip. Senator Cheryl Kagan will also take on a new role as the Senate liaison for national legislative affairs.

The Senate also announced several subcommittee leadership assignments. Within the Education, Energy, and the Environment Committee, Kagan will chair the Elections Subcommittee, while Senator Kevin Harris will chair the Energy Subcommittee.

Budget and Taxation will maintain six subcommittees. Senator Craig Zucker will chair Capital; McCray will chair Education, Business, and Administration; Senator Karen Lewis Young will chair Health and Human Services; Senator Shelly Hettleman will chair Public Safety, Transportation, and Environment; Senator Jim Rosapepe will chair Revenues; and Augustine will chair Pensions and Procurement.

All other Senate leadership positions will remain unchanged unless additional appointments are announced.

Stay tuned to Conduit Street for more information.