Brian Feldman

Brian Feldman is an American politician currently serving as a member of the Maryland State Senate, representing District 15. A member of the Democratic Party, Feldman has a background in law and accounting, and he has held various positions in the Maryland legislature since the early 2000s. His legislative work has focused on a range of issues, including environmental policy and healthcare reform.

Early life and career

Brian Feldman was born on February 4, 1961, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He completed his secondary education at Taylor Allderdice High School before pursuing higher education. Feldman attended Pennsylvania State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting in 1983. He then continued his studies at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, obtaining his Juris Doctor degree in 1986. In 2000, he furthered his education by earning a Master of Arts degree in government from Johns Hopkins University.

Following his graduation from law school, Feldman began his professional career as an attorney and certified public accountant at Price Waterhouse, where he worked until 1988. He then transitioned to a role as a trial attorney for the United States Department of Justice Tax Division. In addition to his legal practice, Feldman has been involved in academia, serving as an adjunct professor at Johns Hopkins University since 2006 and at the University of Maryland, College Park, since 2019.

Legislative service

Feldman's legislative career began when he was sworn into the Maryland House of Delegates on January 8, 2003. During his tenure in the House, he served on the Economic Matters Committee, where he was involved in various subcommittees focused on business regulation, consumer protection, and economic development. He also chaired the Joint Technology Oversight Committee and was a member of several other committees, contributing to discussions on issues such as mental health services and administrative review processes.

In June 2013, Feldman sought to fill a vacancy in the Maryland Senate created by the resignation of then-Senate Majority Leader Robert J. Garagiola. After a selection process that saw the withdrawal of his opponents, he was nominated unanimously by the Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee and subsequently appointed to the Maryland Senate by Governor Martin O'Malley on September 12, 2013. Feldman successfully ran for a full term in the Maryland Senate in 2014, defeating a long-time candidate in the general election.

In the Maryland Senate, Feldman has held several significant committee assignments. He currently serves as the Chair of the Education, Energy and the Environment Committee, a position he has held since 2023. He is also a member of the Rules Committee and the Workers Compensation Benefit and Insurance Oversight Committee. His involvement in various legislative committees has allowed him to influence a wide range of policy areas, including energy, technology, and healthcare.

Policy focus and district

Feldman's legislative agenda has prominently featured environmental issues and healthcare reform. He has been an advocate for clean energy initiatives, notably introducing the Clean Energy Jobs Act during the 2018 legislative session. This legislation aimed to require that half of Maryland's power generation come from renewable sources by 2030. The bill was reintroduced in 2019 and ultimately became law without the signature of Governor Larry Hogan.

In 2021, Feldman expressed opposition to a proposal from the Hogan administration that sought to scale back the state's vehicle emissions testing program. He amended a bill to restrict the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration's ability to make changes to its emissions inspection program, demonstrating his commitment to maintaining environmental standards.

Feldman continued his focus on renewable energy with his support for the Promoting Offshore Wind Energy Resources (POWER) Act during the 2023 legislative session. This legislation sets ambitious goals for wind power generation in Maryland and aims to enhance labor standards in the offshore wind sector. The bill was signed into law by Governor Wes Moore in April 2023.

In the realm of healthcare, Feldman has been active in efforts to protect and expand access to medical services. He introduced the Protect Maryland Health Care Act during the 2018 legislative session, which sought to reinstate provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) that had been repealed at the federal level. Although the original bill did not progress, he successfully amended it in 2019 to create a guide for uninsured individuals to access Medicaid and subsidized health plans.

Feldman has also worked on legislation to establish a Prescription Drug Affordability Board, which would have the authority to set upper payment limits on certain prescription medications. Following a court ruling that threatened the ACA, he pledged to enshrine as many of its provisions into Maryland law as possible. In 2020, he introduced and passed legislation that codified key consumer protections from the ACA, including protections for individuals with pre-existing conditions and provisions related to dependent coverage.

As a representative of District 15, Feldman has focused on addressing the needs and concerns of his constituents, engaging in legislative efforts that reflect the priorities of the community he serves. His work in the Maryland legislature has established him as a prominent figure in discussions surrounding environmental policy and healthcare reform, contributing to the broader legislative landscape in the state.