Delegate Dana Jones

Dana Celeste Jones is a Democratic member of the Maryland House of Delegates representing District 30A, which encompasses Annapolis and Anne Arundel County. Born on June 26, 1976, in Cumberland, Maryland, Jones comes from a politically active family—her mother was a longtime member of the Allegany County Democratic Central Committee, and her father served as president of the local American Postal Workers Union.

Jones was appointed to the House of Delegates on May 1, 2020, and was elected to a full four-year term in 2022. She currently serves as Deputy Speaker Pro Tem and has earned recognition from the Capital Gazette as "one of the most prolific lawmakers" in the state.

Education

Jones graduated from Fort Hill High School in Cumberland, Maryland, and earned her Bachelor of Science degree in sociology from Towson University in 1998. Her early political involvement began during her college years, when she served as a member of the university's College Democrats organization.

Political Experience

Before her election to the Maryland House of Delegates, Jones spent 23 years working with elected officials in various capacities:

• Campaign manager for Robert Zirkin's 1998 House of Delegates campaign
• Legislative aide to U.S. Representative Benjamin L. Cardin from 1999 to 2001
• Senior researcher for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee
• Research director for EMILY's List
• Partner in a national political consulting firm
• Independent political consultant since 2013

Currently, Jones serves on the Appropriations Committee, where she is Vice Chair of the Health and Social Services Subcommittee and member of the Oversight Committee on Pensions. She also chairs the Anne Arundel County Capital Budget Sub-Committee.

Notable Achievements

Jones has demonstrated significant legislative productivity. In the 2024 legislative session alone, 13 of her 16 sponsored bills were passed and signed into law. Her major legislative accomplishments include:

• Lead sponsorship of the Freedom to Read Act, historic legislation that made Maryland one of the first states in the nation to protect libraries and librarians from book bans and censorship
• Expansive work on election law to protect democratic processes
• Legislation broadening access to telehealth services for students
• Support for firefighter and emergency medical services personnel

In 2025, she was elected by her fellow female legislators to serve as President of the Maryland Legislative Women's Caucus, the oldest such caucus in the nation.