Background
Hixson was born and raised inMaryland General Assembly
In 1976, Hixson was elected a member of the Maryland House of Delegates in Annapolis after being asked by Democratic Party leaders to fill a recently vacated seat. At the time, women were only 10.6 percent of the legislature. Her first committee assignment was the House Environmental Matters Committee, followed by becoming the first female chair of the Ways & Means Committee. In 1993 she was appointed chair of the Ways & Means Committee becoming the highest ranked woman delegate in the General Assembly. In this role, she was responsible for state and local taxation matters; education programs and financing; elections; transportation funding; lottery and horse racing; and issues relating to children youth and families. Hixson announced her retirement in November 2017. At the time, she was the longest-serving woman in the General Assembly.Political accomplishments
Hixs has been described as an "outspoken progressive" on policy, including same-sex rights and gun control. She is reputed for having had a pragmatic approach to politics and being "on the cutting edge of social change".Education
Hixson has stated public education to be the most important issue facing Maryland. Former House Majority Leader John Hurson served with Hixson for 15 years, describing her as a "constant defender" of education in Maryland education. Hixson was a member of Maryland's "Thornton Commission" and one of the original supporters of the five-year Bridge to Excellence Plan for public primary and secondary education. Maryland became the first State in the country to endorse a comprehensive reform of its school finance system based on principles of adequacy and equity without being forced to do so by a court order. Once enacted, additional funds were included in the 2008 budget to accommodate the Geographic Cost of Education Index, a concept promoted by Hixson. This legislation allows localities to secure funds based on specific costs related to its county or locale. Hixson has been a continuous sponsor of the Tuition Affordability Act which freezes in-state undergraduate tuition increases for 2006, 2007. The legislation was expanded further into 2008 by governorHealth
Hixson introduced legislation for Universal Newborn Hearing Screening making Maryland the 13th state to mandate hearing testing for all babies born in the State. In addition, Hixson's legislation established the Hearing Aid Loaner Program and mandated insurance coverage for children's hearing aids. She sponsored the Spinal Cord Regeneration Trust fund to provide for research to develop new therapies to restore neurological function in individuals with spinal cord injuries, the Senior Prescription Drug Act, and a funding formula legislation for infants and toddlers.Social issues
Hixson has supported reform enabling tax credit benefits for the disadvantaged. She has also shown support for same-sex couples in voting against a bill designed to keep the issue alive by Republican lawmakers. She also sponsored legislation which made Maryland the first state to require that all handguns be sold with built-in locks.Elections
Sheila Hixson sponsored legislation making Maryland the first state to enter into an Interstate Compact Agreement to Elect the President by Popular Vote which takes effect when signed by enough states to reach the 270 electoral votes necessary to elect a president. In the same year, Hixson sponsored legislation that provided a "voter-verifiable" paper trail ensuring a physical record of votes.Personal life and death
Hixson died on November 6, 2022, at the age of 89.References and notes
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hixson, Sheila, E. 1933 births 2022 deaths People from L'Anse, Michigan Democratic Party members of the Maryland House of Delegates Women state legislators in Maryland 21st-century American politicians 21st-century American women politicians 20th-century American politicians 20th-century American women politicians Northern Michigan University alumni