Shaneka Henson

Shaneka Tarae Henson was born and raised in Annapolis, Maryland on July 29, 1983. She comes from a family deeply committed to community service—her parents are both former pastors who have worked across Africa.

Henson currently serves as a Democratic member of the Maryland State Senate, representing District 30 in Anne Arundel County. In 2025, she made history as the first Black woman to hold the Annapolis Senate seat. She was sworn into the Maryland Senate on January 8, 2025.

Before her Senate appointment, Henson served in the Maryland House of Delegates from May 2019 to January 2025, replacing the late Speaker Michael E. Busch. She was also the first African American woman to represent the City of Annapolis in the Maryland General Assembly. Prior to her delegate service, she was elected to the Annapolis City Council representing Ward 6 from 2017 to 2019.

Education

Henson earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Coppin State University in 2006 and her Juris Doctor from the University of Baltimore School of Law. She was admitted to the Maryland Bar in 2010 and currently practices as an attorney with Johnson Legal Group, LLC.

Political Experience and Notable Achievements

Henson has championed legislation focused on equity, opportunity, and dignity. Her notable legislative accomplishments include:

• Housing and environmental protection: Sponsored HB544 to enhance accountability in public housing and HB976 establishing standards for mold remediation and assessment
• Education support: Passed HB1268, the Legal Education Success Collaborative Act, providing mentorship and full-ride scholarships for aspiring law students at HBCUs, and HB1349 securing bonuses for education support professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic
• Economic justice: Advanced HB268 providing tax exemptions for small business personal property, SB513 requiring public notification of restrictive covenant modifications, HB364 extending tax exemptions for medical devices, and HB540 supporting urban farmers through the University of Maryland Extension

Currently, Henson serves on the Judicial Proceedings Committee and the Joint Committee on Children, Youth, and Families. She also serves as Chair of the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland and is a member of the Maryland Legislative LGBTQ+ Caucus.

Henson has received recognition including the Sojourner Truth Award from Anne Arundel County in 2021 and selection to Maryland's Top 100 Women by the Daily Record in 2024.