As a member of the Maryland General Assembly for 21 years, former Delegate and State Senator Bobby Zirkin offers a unique perspective on life as a legislature, a real look at how a bill really becomes a law, and the importance of working together and compromise to achieve meaningful and lasting change in the political arena.
As a legislator, Senator Zirkin was integrally involved in complex and important legislation for over two decades including criminal justice reform, police-community relation, cyber-bullying, juvenile justice, group home reform, civil justice, family and divorce law, sex offender crimes, drunk driving domestic violence, human trafficking, medical marijuana and marijuana decriminalization, and drug policy reform. Bobby was the lead sponsor of the strongest-in-the-nation cyberbullying law, the lead sponsor and driving force behind Maryland’s permanent ban on fracking, the author of the Senate’s groundbreaking Red Flag gun law, the author of Maryland’s first expungement expansion, the lead sponsor to decriminalize marijuana and pass medical cannabis, and the Senate leader behind Maryland’s national model criminal justice reform entitled the “Justice Reinvestment Act.” Bobby played roles in the repeal of Maryland’s death penalty, the passage of the Marriage Equality Act, major divorce law and domestic violence legislation, and significant reform in the juvenile justice and child welfare systems in Maryland.
In 21 years, Senator Bobby Zirkin developed a reputation for passing complex and meaningful legislation, for aggressive representation of his constituents, and a stubborn adherence to true bipartisanship. Bobby worked across the political aisle, eschewing party labels, and sought to forge consensus and compromise, something rarely seen in today’s political environment.
Senator Zirkin has spoken to groups including, business organization, trade associations, law conferences, medical organization, hospital staff, environmental organizations, groups formed to combat childhood bullying, police unions, college and university classes, and student graduations. Bobby is a sought-after speaker on specific legislative topics such as cyber-bullying, marijuana reform, criminal justice reform, and the fracking ban to general talks about the legislative process. He is renowned for talks about the importance of working together, bipartisanship, and the need to understand that compromise is not a dirty word, but rather the means to progress.