Sheila Ellis Hixson (February 9, 1933 – November 6, 2022) was an American politician who served as a Democrat in the Maryland House of Delegates from 1976 to 2018.

She served in a number of roles and supported progressive values and introduced laws in favour of gun control, same-sex rights, and tax reform.

While employed as a legislative representative for the American Psychological Association, she became active in her community and was elected to the Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee.

[2] 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.

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 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.

[7] 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.