Sen. Collett grew up in Maryland, raised by her Greek immigrant father, who came to the U.S. to earn a Ph.D. in Economics, and her mother, who rose from a disadvantaged childhood to become the first member of her family to graduate from college. Their experiences instilled the values of education, hard work, integrity and humility in Sen. Collett from a young age.

About - Senator Maria Collett

Their experiences instilled the values of education, hard work, integrity and humility in Sen. Collett from a young age. Sen. Collett has a BA in English Literature from the University of Maryland at College Park, a JD from Rutgers University School of Law, and a BSN from Drexel University.

Sen. Collett and her husband Len, an attorney, reside in Lower Gwynedd Township with their son August and two dogs, Foster and Otis. She is an avid reader, muscle car enthusiast and movie buff.

Maria Collett grew up in Maryland. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in English literature from the University of Maryland at College Park, a bachelor's degree in nursing from Drexel University, and a law degree from Rutgers University School of Law. She lives in Lower Gwynedd Township with her husband, Len, and their child.

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Sen. Collett is a lifelong advocate for working families. Following a successful career as a Deputy Attorney General in Camden County, New Jersey advocating for the rights of children, Sen. Collett pursued her passion for healthcare by transitioning to nursing.

After graduating from nursing school, she found tremendous purpose and pride caring for patients at the bedside, working as a Level I trauma nurse, in pediatric home health, and in long-term care with aging adults.

Maria Collett previously worked as a deputy attorney general in Camden County, New Jersey. She later worked as a Level I trauma nurse, in pediatric home health, and providing long-term care to aging adults.

After graduating from Drexel University, she began her career as a nurse eventually working in trauma, long term care, and pediatric home health. In 2018, she was elected to the PA state senate representing Senate District 12. Today, we talk to the senator about her journey, her drive to advocate for the citizens of Pennsylvania, and the responsibility nurses have to use their collective voice in political discourse.

Senator Maria Collett - Penn Nursing

Maria Collett was elected to the Pennsylvania State Senate to represent District 12 in 2018.

Senator Maria Collett - Penn Nursing - University of Pennsylvania

2026 Pennsylvania General Election 

Sen. Collett’s legislative record shows her dedication to making life safer and more affordable for everyone. As the prime sponsor of the Family Care Act, Sen. Collett is working to establish a statewide paid family and medical leave program.

She advocated for the expansion of PA’s Child & Dependent Care Tax Credit as part of the 2023-24 budget, tripling the maximum tax credit and giving a much-needed boost to working families.

As a registered nurse, she continues to fight for fair working conditions, wages and workforce development programs for frontline healthcare professionals.

Sponsors the Family Care Act to establish a statewide paid family and medical leave program.

Advocated for expanding Pennsylvania's Child & Dependent Care Tax Credit, including tripling its maximum credit.

Advocates for fair working conditions, wages, and workforce-development programs for frontline healthcare professionals.

- Sponsors the Family Care Act to establish a statewide paid family and medical leave program.
- Advocated for expanding Pennsylvania's Child & Dependent Care Tax Credit, including tripling its maximum credit.
- Advocates for fair working conditions, wages, and workforce-development programs for frontline healthcare professionals.

Economy

Every single Pennsylvanian should be able to access essential healthcare services and the items they need to live healthy, full lives. Yet 2 in 5 menstruators are struggling to afford period products in the U.S. It’s clear that period poverty must be treated as the critical healthcare issue it is.
I’ve been working with local nonprofits, county officials, and fellow lawmakers to ensure period products are affordable, accessible, and destigmatized in Pennsylvania.
So far, we have secured:
$3 million in the 2024-2025 budget for period products in PA public school restrooms.
No-cost period products in public county-owned restrooms in Montgomery County.
No-cost period products in Pennsylvania prisons as part of the Dignity for Incarcerated Women Act.

Women’s Health - Senator Maria Collett

Secured $3 million for period products in Pennsylvania public-school restrooms in the 2024–25 budget.

- Secured $3 million for period products in Pennsylvania public-school restrooms in the 2024–25 budget.

Education

Now serving in her second term, Sen. Collett remains committed to ensuring a better future for every Pennsylvanian. She is a strong advocate for more affordable, accessible healthcare – including mental and behavioral healthcare.

Women have many different reasons for obtaining an abortion, and often it’s for their own safety if their pregnancy poses health risks. No matter someone’s reasoning for obtaining an abortion, an abortion is a safe way to end a pregnancy that must remain safe and legal.

Every Pennsylvanian should have the freedom to decide what is best for themselves and their families, including the decision to get an abortion. Despite ongoing attacks on reproductive care by anti-choice politicians, abortion is still safe and legal in Pennsylvania, and I’ve been fighting to make sure this remains the case.

Proposed Legislation
The Pennsylvania Menstrual Equity Act
Senate Bill 612

Collett/Cappelletti

This bill would require menstrual products to be made available at no cost in public facilities operated by agencies serving populations who are young, low-income, homeless, or incarcerated.

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Every single Pennsylvanian should be able to access essential healthcare services and the items they need to live healthy, full lives. Yet 2 in 5 menstruators are struggling to afford period products in the U.S. It’s clear that period poverty must be treated as the critical healthcare issue it is.
I’ve been working with local nonprofits, county officials, and fellow lawmakers to ensure period products are affordable, accessible, and destigmatized in Pennsylvania.

Black birthing Pennsylvanians are disproportionately affected by maternal mortality and morbidity issues. As a member of the Black Maternal Health Caucus, I’ve been working closely with lawmakers in both chambers to ensure the PA Momnibus package moves through the General Assembly and to Governor Shapiro’s desk.

Advocates for more affordable and accessible healthcare, including mental and behavioral healthcare.

Supports keeping abortion safe and legal.

Proposes the Pennsylvania Menstrual Equity Act, requiring no-cost menstrual products at specified public facilities.

Believes period poverty should be treated as a critical healthcare issue.

Advocates for passage of the Pennsylvania Momnibus package.

- Advocates for more affordable and accessible healthcare, including mental and behavioral healthcare.
- Supports keeping abortion safe and legal.
- Proposes the Pennsylvania Menstrual Equity Act, requiring no-cost menstrual products at specified public facilities.
- Believes period poverty should be treated as a critical healthcare issue.
- Advocates for passage of the Pennsylvania Momnibus package.

Healthcare

Here, in Pennsylvania, your vote is protected, and your vote matters. I will always stand up against rumors and lies about our elections, about this country, and about our fellow Pennsylvanians.

Protecting Democracy and Elections - Senator Maria Collett

Every eligible voter in Pennsylvania has a right to make their voice heard at the polls. We must make sure voting is accessible for all of us by protecting no-excuse mail in voting and secure ballot drop boxes, standing against onerous voter ID proposals, keeping the Automatic Voter Registration program in place, and more.

Pennsylvania is one of ten states that has fully closed primary elections, meaning only registered Democratic or Republican voters can cast their ballots in primary elections. When we deny so many Independent and third-party Pennsylvanians the ability to vote simply because of their party affiliation, we deprive ourselves of the opportunity to have a truly representative and responsive government.
I am continuing to fight in Harrisburg for open primary elections to ensure our electoral system is equitable and accessible for every qualified Pennsylvania voter

# Legislation
I am proud to have introduced and cosponsored legislation that would ensure our elections are safe, secure, and accessible here in the Commonwealth.

The following bills are proposed bills that have been formally introduced for the 2025-2026 Senate Session.

## Young Voter Preregistration
## Senate Bill 448

Collett

This bill would boost civic engagement by allowing teens who are otherwise qualified under Title 25, §1301 (Qualification to register) and who are at least 16 years of age to preregister to vote and then be automatically registered when they turn 18 or on a date in advance of the next election when they will be 18 years of age.

Pledges to oppose rumors and lies about elections.

Supports protecting no-excuse mail voting, secure ballot drop boxes, and automatic voter registration, while opposing voter identification proposals she calls onerous.

Advocates for open primary elections for qualified Pennsylvania voters.

Introduced Senate Bill 448 to let eligible 16- and 17-year-olds preregister to vote and automatically register when eligible.

- Pledges to oppose rumors and lies about elections.
- Supports protecting no-excuse mail voting, secure ballot drop boxes, and automatic voter registration, while opposing voter identification proposals she calls onerous.
- Advocates for open primary elections for qualified Pennsylvania voters.
- Introduced Senate Bill 448 to let eligible 16- and 17-year-olds preregister to vote and automatically register when eligible.

Voting & Elections

The way we are seeing ICE operate and be used by the federal government is wrong and dangerous. It is doing nothing to make us safer, protect our freedoms, or improve affordability, economic opportunity or the overall quality of life in our communities.

Protecting Pennsylvanians from ICE - Senator Maria Collett

March 22, 2019: Following recent incidents where people have opened fire at township meetings, Senator Collett has introduced legislation that would allow local municipalities to restrict firearms at their facilities.

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Audio - Senator Maria Collett

And she has secured tens of millions of dollars in state grant funding to improve public safety infrastructure – from police station upgrades and roadway repairs to nonprofit security and victim services.

Said the federal government's use of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is "wrong and dangerous."

Introduced legislation allowing municipalities to restrict firearms at their facilities.

Secured state grant funding for public-safety infrastructure, including police-station upgrades, nonprofit security, and victim services.

- Said the federal government's use of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is "wrong and dangerous."
- Introduced legislation allowing municipalities to restrict firearms at their facilities.
- Secured state grant funding for public-safety infrastructure, including police-station upgrades, nonprofit security, and victim services.

Public Safety

As of October 16, 2026, Maria Collett did not have a website or any information online.

Energy & the Environment

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Maria Collett

- Supports protecting no-excuse mail voting, secure ballot drop boxes, and automatic voter registration, while opposing voter identification proposals she calls onerous.
- Advocates for open primary elections for qualified Pennsylvania voters.
- Introduced Senate Bill 448 to let eligible 16- and 17-year-olds preregister to vote and automatically register when eligible.

As of October 16, 2026, Maria Collett’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Isaac Brickman

Buket Urgen

Robert F Costello III

- Your state senator represents the interests of your district in the Pennsylvania State Senate. The State Senate, along with the State House of Representatives, makes up your state lawmaking body: the Pennsylvania General Assembly. 
- Your state senator can author, sponsor, and vote on bills that may become state laws after going through the legislative process.
- The State Senator and their staff members respond to constituent concerns and questions through emails, phone calls, and website announcements. 
- The State Senator oversees the executive branch and can vote to overrule a veto by the Governor.   
- There are 50 Pennsylvania state senators, each representing a single district.
- Senators must be at least 25 years old, U.S. citizens, and residents of Pennsylvania for four years. They must also have lived in their district for one year before the election and must remain there throughout their term.
- State senators are elected to four-year terms and have a salary of $106,000, with a 1-3% annual increase.  

Your representative and state lawmaker in the Pennsylvania Senate.