Del. Joseline Peña-Melnyk

Delegate Joseline Peña-Melnyk has been a dedicated leader within the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators (NHCSL) for over a decade. She served as the East Region Chair from 2021–2023, following her tenure as Chair of the Law and Criminal Justice Task Force and as a member of the Executive Committee. In 2018, NHCSL awarded her the John S. Martínez Legislator of the Year Award for her exceptional leadership and for building consensus around some of the caucus’s most complex policy resolutions, including cannabis and gun reform. She later served on the East Executive Committee again from 2024–2025.

Del. Joseline Peña-Melnyk has built a career dedicated to justice, healthcare access, and equity. Representing Maryland’s Legislative District 21, she serves as Chair of the Health and Government Operations Committee, where she has been a leading force in shaping policies that improve the lives of Marylanders. She is the highest-ranking Latina in the Maryland General Assembly and has passed over 100 bills into law, many of them the first of their kind in the nation.

Her journey began in the Dominican Republic. As a child, she immigrated to the United States with her single mother and sister, settling in New York City. Her mother worked long hours in the garment industry, and at times, the family relied on welfare due to financial struggles. Despite these hardships, Joseline thrived in school, learning English and later becoming the first in her family to attend college through the Equal Opportunity Program.

Her commitment to public service began early. During law school, she dedicated her summers to representing death row inmates in Alabama and advocating for migrant farm workers in Ohio. After earning her law degree, she worked at the public defender’s office. Afterwards, she took on court-appointed cases, defending abused children and low-income defendants. Her dedication then led her to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, where she collaborated with police officers, witnesses, and victims to prosecute violent crimes.

Determined to serve her community in elected office, Del. Peña-Melnyk won a seat on the College Park City Council before launching a grassroots campaign for the Maryland House of Delegates in 2006. With dedicated volunteers and modest contributions, she won the election and has since become one of Maryland’s most effective legislators.

Over the years, she has spearheaded major legislative efforts that have gained national recognition. She was instrumental in the creation of the Prescription Drug Affordability Board, a first-in-the-nation initiative designed to rein in excessive prescription drug costs. She led the passage of the Maryland Easy Enrollment Health Insurance Program, a groundbreaking law that allows uninsured residents to sign up for health coverage through tax filings, making Maryland the first state in the country to implement such a system. She also played a key role in ensuring the continuation of Maryland’s state-operated reinsurance program, a critical initiative that helps stabilize the insurance market and keeps premiums lower for Marylanders.

Her legislative accomplishments extend beyond healthcare policy. She was the driving force behind the Maryland Lynching Truth and Reconciliation Commission, the first statewide initiative in the United States dedicated to investigating historical racial terror lynchings. She also championed the Shirley Nathan-Pulliam Health Equity Act, which established the Maryland Commission on Health Equity to address systemic health disparities.

Through every stage of her career, from her work as a public defender to her leadership in the General Assembly and her service within NHCSL, Del. Peña-Melnyk has remained committed to fighting for the most vulnerable. Her passion for justice, equity, and public service continues to shape policies that build a stronger, healthier, and fairer country for all.