Nonpartisan · Data from OpenStates / Plural Policy · Maryland
Democratic
· State Senator
Karen Young
Represents District 3 in the State Senate.
Votes with Democrats
98%
on 256 party-line votes · Senate Democrats median 98%
Cast a vote
99%
Yea or Nay on 1,242 of 1,244 roll calls · Senate median 96%
Their bills that became law
7 of 20
as a primary sponsor, this session · Democrats median 7
Roll calls on record
1,244
2026 Regular Session
Votes and bills updated Oct 10, 2026 from LegiScan (CC BY 4.0), which republishes the legislature’s own records. Profile details from OpenStates / Plural Policy. Figures cover 2026 Regular Session.
How Karen Young votes
A party-line vote is a roll call where most voting Democrats and most voting Republicans took opposite sides. Absences and not-voting are never counted. Same method as our Congress pages.
Where Karen Young sits in the Senate
Each dot is one member of the Senate, placed by how often they voted on the Democratic side of party-line votes. Karen Young is circled.
Always on the Republican sideAlways on the Democratic side
Times they broke with their party
5 of 256 party-line votes.
HB1222 · Prince George's County – State's Attorney Salary – Alteration PG 426-26
In plain English Increases the Prince George's County State's Attorney salary to $250,000, excluding the current officeholder.
Floor Amendment 293321/1 (Senator Folden) Rejected · 2026-04-13 · Failed 15–29 · most Democrats voted the other way
HB336 · Criminal Procedure – District Court – Issuance of Summonses and Arrest Warrants
In plain English Allows District Court commissioners to issue summonses in certain cases while prohibiting arrest warrants in those cases, and requires referral to the State's Attorney and victim access to information.
Third Reading Passed · 2026-04-13 · Passed 35–11 · most Democrats voted the other way
HB336 · Criminal Procedure – District Court – Issuance of Summonses and Arrest Warrants
In plain English Allows District Court commissioners to issue summonses in certain cases while prohibiting arrest warrants in those cases, and requires referral to the State's Attorney and victim access to information.
Floor Amendment 593722/1 (Senator Love) Rejected · 2026-04-13 · Failed 12–34 · most Democrats voted the other way
HB1222 · Prince George's County – State's Attorney Salary – Alteration PG 426-26
In plain English Increases the Prince George's County State's Attorney salary to $250,000, excluding the current officeholder.
Committee Amendment 513122/1 Rejected · 2026-04-13 · Failed 22–22 · most Democrats voted the other way
SB618 · Public Ethics – Members of the General Assembly – State and Local Government Employment Exemption
In plain English Allows the Joint Committee on Legislative Ethics to exempt lawmakers from rules against earning income from state or local government under certain circumstances.
Floor Amendment 583328/1 (Senator Hershey) Rejected · 2026-03-23 · Failed 13–27 · most Democrats voted the other way
Closest votes they cast
Roll calls decided by the fewest votes, one per bill.
HB1222 · Prince George's County – State's Attorney Salary – Alteration PG 426-26
In plain English Increases the Prince George's County State's Attorney salary to $250,000, excluding the current officeholder.
Committee Amendment 513122/1 Rejected · 2026-04-13 · Failed 22–22
SB841 · Utility RELIEF (Reducing Energy Load Inflation for Everyday Families) Act
In plain English Requires the Office of Home Energy Programs to manage electric assistance for certain customers, establishes a nonprofit green energy loan program, and changes solar permitting procedures, among other changes.
Floor Amendment 813629/1 (Senator Jennings) Adopted · 2026-04-02 · Failed 20–19
SB626 · Sex Designation on Certificates of Birth, Licenses, and Identification Cards and Birth Information Histories (Birth Certificate Modernization Act)
In plain English Requires the state to maintain birth information histories and allows government access to them, and changes when new birth certificates are issued for sex designation changes.
Motion to Postpone Indefinitely (Senator Hershey) Rejected · 2026-03-20 · Failed 20–21
HB154 · Open Meetings Act – County Boards of Education – Enhanced Requirements (Local Boards of Education Transparency Act)
In plain English Requires county school boards to keep archived video recordings of open meetings on their websites for at least five years.
Floor Amendment 793028/1 (Senator Ready) Adopted · 2026-04-08 · Passed 24–20
SB284 · Budget Reconciliation and Financing Act of 2026
In plain English Alters required appropriations, authorizes fund uses, changes revenue distribution, and modifies income tax provisions among other changes.
Floor Amendment 673521/1 (Senator Hershey) Rejected · 2026-03-17 · Failed 20–24
Republicans they vote with most
Share of contested roll calls (the losing side got at least 10%) where both voted and landed on the same side. Unanimous votes are left out, because on those everyone agrees.
Chris WestRepublican · District 42 · 264 shared contested votes
40%
Mike McKayRepublican · District 1 · 265 shared contested votes
30%
Bryan SimonaireRepublican · District 31 · 214 shared contested votes
23%
Their session, month by month
Dark bars are roll calls they were recorded on each month; the red part is the ones without a Yea or Nay (2 in all). Gaps are months the chamber wasn’t voting.
← Maryland Delegation
YeaNayNayNayNayNayNayYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaNayYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYea
Their bills, from filing to law
Bills Karen Young was a primary sponsor of this session. Most bills from either party never leave committee; in Illinois many never get past the Assignments or Rules committee.
Introduced20
Out of committee9
Passed one chamber9
Passed both chambers7
Became law7
Never left committee11
For comparison, the median Democratic member of the Senate has 7 bills that became law this session.
What their bills are about
Rules and Regulations 7Notices 6Retirement 6Standards and Best Practices 5Pensions and Retirement 5Reports 4
Maryland School for the Deaf – Membership of Board of Trustees – Alterations
In plain English Reduces the Maryland School for the Deaf's Board of Trustees from 19 to 13 members, requiring at least 7 to be deaf.
Official synopsis: Altering the composition of the Board of Trustees of the Maryland School for the Deaf from 19 members to 13 members and requiring that at least 7 members be deaf.
Became lawApproved by the Governor – Chapter 720 · 2026-05-26
Municipalities – Open Drainage Inlets – Inventory and Improvements (Mason's Law)
In plain English Requires municipalities to inventory open drainage inlets by 2027 and develop improvement plans by 2028, with state matching funds available.
Official synopsis: Requiring a municipality, by July 1, 2027, to inventory all existing open drainage inlets in the municipality; requiring, by April 1, 2028, a municipality to develop a prioritization plan for improving existing open drainage inlets; and requiring, in certain fiscal years, a certain amount of…
Became lawApproved by the Governor – Chapter 356 · 2026-05-12
State Procurement – Transparency and Procedures
In plain English Requires state government to provide contract award debriefings on request, exempts certain specification drafters from bid restrictions, and mandates contract clauses for law-change modifications.
Official synopsis: Requiring a unit of State government to provide a certain debriefing of a contract award to certain persons on request; adding an exemption to the prohibition on an individual who assists in the drafting of specifications, an invitation for bids, or a request for proposals…
Became lawApproved by the Governor – Chapter 395 · 2026-05-12
State Retirement and Pension System – Administration and Clarification
In plain English Changes payment deadlines for local employers' contributions to the State Retirement and Pension System and clarifies related interest rates and eligibility rules.
Official synopsis: Altering the dates by which certain local employers are required to pay the State Retirement and Pension System a certain amount of the charges certified to the local employer; clarifying the interest rate a county government is charged for certain delinquent amounts owed to the…
Became lawApproved by the Governor – Chapter 290 · 2026-04-28
Correctional Officers' Retirement System – Membership – Clarifications
In plain English Clarifies which Maryland Department of Health facility employees are members of the Correctional Officers' Retirement System and requires certain appointed, promoted, or transferred employees to be members as a condition of employment.
Official synopsis: Clarifying the membership in the Correctional Officers' Retirement System for certain employees of certain Maryland Department of Health facilities; and clarifying that certain participating employees who are appointed, promoted, or transferred are members of the Correctional Officers' Retirement System as a condition of employment.
Became lawApproved by the Governor – Chapter 294 · 2026-04-28
State Retirement and Pension System – Transfers Between Systems – Workgroup – Extension
In plain English Extends the deadline for a workgroup studying transfers between state and local retirement systems to report by October 1, 2026, and operate until June 30, 2027.
Official synopsis: Extending the reporting date from December 1, 2025, to October 1, 2026, and the termination date from 2026 to June 30, 2027, for a workgroup convened by the State Retirement Agency to study transfers of member service between State and local retirement and pension systems;…
Became lawApproved by the Governor – Chapter 293 · 2026-04-28
State Retirement and Pension System – Cost-of-Living Adjustments – Clarification
In plain English Clarifies which Consumer Price Index determines cost-of-living adjustments for state retirees in certain years.
Official synopsis: Clarifying the Consumer Price Index used to determine the cost-of-living adjustments for retirees of the State Retirement and Pension System in certain years.
Became lawApproved by the Governor – Chapter 55 · 2026-04-14
Hunting – Restrictions of Venison Donation
In plain English Requires the Department of Natural Resources to prohibit donating processed venison to certain entities unless the deer was killed with nonlead ammunition or a bow and arrow.
Official synopsis: Requiring the Department of Natural Resources to prohibit the donation of certain processed venison to certain entities unless the deer was harvested using nonlead ammunition or a bow and arrow; and establishing that a person who violates the Act is subject to a civil fine…
Passed one chamberReferred Rules and Executive Nominations · 2026-04-10
Task Force on Education Funding and Student Population Growth
In plain English Creates a task force to analyze how delays in student enrollment counts and growing student populations affect school funding, requiring a report by December 15, 2026.
Official synopsis: Establishing the Task Force on Education Funding and Student Population Growth to analyze the challenges related to the delay in student enrollment counts and its effect on school funding and the connection between growing student populations and the provision of school funding; requiring the State…
Passed one chamberHearing 4/07 at 1:30 p.m. · 2026-04-07
Corporate Income Tax – Addition Modification – Direct-to-Consumer Pharmaceutical Advertising
Providing an addition modification under the corporate income tax for the amount of certain direct-to-consumer advertising expenses for certain covered drugs paid or incurred during the taxable year that are deducted under the Internal Revenue Code; providing for the distribution of revenue attributable to the…
Not out of committeeHearing 3/11 at 1:00 p.m. · 2026-03-05
Homeowners Associations – Reserve Funding, Meeting Notices, Voting, and Records
Requiring that books and records kept by or on behalf of certain homeowners associations be posted online; clarifying that a governing body of a homeowners association may secure a line of credit or loan to fund reserves; requiring that certain homeowners associations provide notice of…
Not out of committeeHearing 3/11 at 1:00 p.m. · 2026-02-12
Municipal Elections – Qualified Electronic Transmission Systems – Authorization for Use
Authorizing a municipality to conduct a municipal election through the use of a qualified electronic transmission system; and prohibiting a municipality from using information received from a voter using a qualified electronic transmission system for certain purposes.
Not out of committeeHearing 2/25 at 1:00 p.m. · 2026-02-10
Local Government – Trap-Neuter-Return Policies for Community Cats – Requirements and Restrictions (Ash's Law)
Establishing that the prohibition against abandoning an animal does not apply to a person who is providing care to a community cat under a certain trap-neuter-return policy; establishing that a local law that establishes a trap-neuter-return policy is subject to certain requirements and restrictions; and…
Not out of committeeHearing 3/10 at 1:00 p.m. · 2026-02-10
Property Taxes – Authority of Counties to Establish a Subclass and Set a Special Rate for Personal Property of Data Centers
Authorizing the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore City or the governing body of a county to establish, by law, a subclass of personal property consisting of all the personal property of certain qualified data centers and set a special personal property tax rate for…
Not out of committeeHearing 2/18 at 1:00 p.m. · 2026-02-04
Health Occupations – Pharmacists – Minor Conditions and HIV Prevention and Treatment
Authorizing pharmacists, under certain circumstances, to prescribe, administer, and dispense certain drugs or devices and perform and interpret certain laboratory tests; repealing provisions establishing and governing the Nonoccupational Postexposure Prophylaxis (nPEP)Standing Order Program; and authorizing the Maryland Department of Health to establish certain statewide written…
Not out of committeeHearing 2/17 at 1:00 p.m. · 2026-02-03
“In plain English” lines are written by ThePolitibase with AI (Claude), from the official synopsis only; the synopsis is the authoritative text. Descriptions are the legislature’s own synopsis. Bill data from LegiScan, CC BY 4.0.
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HB2100 · 2026-08-04
Election Districts – General Assembly and Representatives in Congress (Motion Rules Suspend Two Readings Same Day Const/Rule 24 (Senator Feldman) Adopted)
HB2100 · 2026-08-04
Election Districts – General Assembly and Representatives in Congress (Floor Amendment 943226/1 (Senator West) Rejected)
HB2100 · 2026-08-04
Election Districts – General Assembly and Representatives in Congress (Floor Amendment 763427/1 (Senator Salling) Rejected)
HB2100 · 2026-08-04
Election Districts – General Assembly and Representatives in Congress (Floor Amendment 393120/1 (Senator Ready) Rejected)
HB2100 · 2026-08-04
Election Districts – General Assembly and Representatives in Congress (Floor Amendment 713626/1 (Senator Simonaire) Rejected)
HB2100 · 2026-08-04
Election Districts – General Assembly and Representatives in Congress (Floor Amendment 473622/1 (Senator Gallion) Rejected)
HB2100 · 2026-08-04
Election Districts – General Assembly and Representatives in Congress (Floor Amendment 213220/1 (Senator Hershey) Rejected)
HB2100 · 2026-08-04
Election Districts – General Assembly and Representatives in Congress (Third Reading Passed)
HB2101 · 2026-08-04
Arbitration Reform for State Employees Act of 2026 – Withdraw and Repeal of Duplicate Proposed Constitutional Amendment (Motion Rules Suspend Two Readings Same Day Const/Rule 24 (Senator Kagan) Adopted)
HB2101 · 2026-08-04
Arbitration Reform for State Employees Act of 2026 – Withdraw and Repeal of Duplicate Proposed Constitutional Amendment (Third Reading Passed)
HB862 · 2026-08-03
Railroads – Required Crew for Movement of Freight (Overridden)
HB423 · 2026-04-13
Prince George's County – Public High Schools – Drug Detection Products PG 501-26 (Third Reading Passed)
HB38 · 2026-04-13
Financial Institutions – Licensing of Affiliated Insurance Producer-Mortgage Loan Originators – Alterations (Third Reading Passed)
HB405 · 2026-04-13
Condominiums and Homeowners Associations – Governing Documents – Electric Vehicle Recharging Equipment (Third Reading Passed)
HB769 · 2026-04-13
State Board of Social Work Examiners – Provisional License to Practice Social Work – Established (Third Reading Passed)
HB1466 · 2026-04-13
Department of Housing and Community Development – Appraisal Gap From Historic Redlining Financial Assistance Program – Qualified Properties (Third Reading Passed)
HB547 · 2026-04-13
Income Tax – Enhanced Agricultural Management Equipment Subtraction Modification and Parent of a Stillborn Child Credit (Third Readings Passed with Amendments)
HB1554 · 2026-04-13
Sales and Use Tax – Electricity for Agriculture Purposes – Study and Report (Third Reading Passed)
HB1118 · 2026-04-13
Health, Health Insurance, and Health Occupations – Perinatal Behavioral Health Conditions (Third Reading Passed)
HB1091 · 2026-04-13
Health Insurance and Dental Plan Organizations – Dentists – Assignment of Benefits and Reimbursement of Nonpreferred Providers (Third Reading Passed)
HB107 · 2026-04-13
Motor Vehicles – Intelligent Speed Assistance System Pilot Program – Establishment (Third Reading Passed)
HB752 · 2026-04-13
Criminal Law – Theft and Fraud Crimes – Valuation and Forgery of Gift Cards (Third Reading Passed)
HB264 · 2026-04-13
Maryland Data Privacy and Protection Act of 2026 (Third Reading Passed)
HB1526 · 2026-04-13
Carroll County – Alcoholic Beverages – Class 1 Distillery On-Premises Consumption Permit (Third Reading Passed)
HB730 · 2026-04-13
Business Regulation – Maryland Franchise Registration and Disclosure Law – Alterations (Franchise Reform Act) (Third Reading Passed)
HB593 · 2026-04-13
Criminal Law – Interference With Critical Infrastructure or a Public Safety Answering Point (Third Reading Passed)
HB1267 · 2026-04-13
Patuxent Research Refuge and Beltsville Agricultural Research Center – Zoning Classification (Protecting Patuxent Research Refuge Act) (Third Reading Passed)
HB6 · 2026-04-13
Public Institutions of Higher Education – Pregnant and Parenting Students – Plan and Reporting (Third Reading Passed)
HB321 · 2026-04-13
Environment – Synthetic Turf Industry and Disposal Study – Deadline Extension (Third Reading Passed)
SB242 · 2026-04-13
Modernizing Civil Relief for Service Members Act (Third Reading Passed)
HB1387 · 2026-04-13
Maryland Automobile Insurance Fund – Fund Producer Commission Rate (Third Reading Passed)
HB611 · 2026-04-13
Prince George’s County – Alcoholic Beverages – Fees PG 317–26 (Third Reading Passed)
HB583 · 2026-04-13
Prince George’s County – Alcoholic Beverages – Notice of Issuance of Class C Per Diem Beer, Wine, and Liquor License PG 319–26 (Third Reading Passed)
HB246 · 2026-04-13
Video Tolls – Class G (Trailer) Vehicles – Liability (Third Reading Passed)
HB870 · 2026-04-13
Environment – Permit Applications for New Buildings – Notice (Large Buildings for Tomorrow Act) (Third Reading Passed)
HB1196 · 2026-04-13
Environment – Water Quality Testing – Secondary Maximum Contaminant Levels Action Plan (Third Reading Passed)
HB750 · 2026-04-13
Criminal Law – Obstruction or Interference With Exercise of Religious Beliefs – Prohibition (Third Reading Passed)
HB640 · 2026-04-13
Mandated Reports, Boards, and Commissions – Revisions (Third Reading Passed)
HB618 · 2026-04-13
Commercial Law – Self-Service Storage Facilities – Alterations (Third Reading Passed)
HB855 · 2026-04-13
Common Ownership Communities – Candidate or Proposition Signs – Display Period (Third Reading Passed)
HB357 · 2026-04-13
Municipalities – Election Dates – Reporting Requirements (Third Reading Passed)
SB18 · 2026-04-13
State Board of Social Work Examiners – Provisional License to Practice Social Work – Established (Third Reading Passed)
SB504 · 2026-04-13
Data Privacy – Consumer Data, Public Records, and Message Switching System (Data Privacy Act) (Third Reading Passed)
HB1530 · 2026-04-13
Higher Education – Undocumented Students – Out-of-State Tuition Exemption Eligibility (Motion Special Order until Next Session (Senator Ready) Rejected)
HB1530 · 2026-04-13
Higher Education – Undocumented Students – Out-of-State Tuition Exemption Eligibility (Third Reading Passed)
HB663 · 2026-04-13
Department of the Environment – Federal Environmental Policy – Reporting (Third Reading Passed)
HB850 · 2026-04-13
Home Builders – Open House – Sales Representative Disclosure Requirements (Third Reading Passed)
HB1587 · 2026-04-13
Gaming – Operation of Electronic Instant Bingo Machines and Report by State Lottery and Gaming Control Agency (Third Reading Passed)
HB1563 · 2026-04-13
Emergency Room Services and Post-Acute Care – Coverage and Facility Studies (Third Reading Passed)
HB1286 · 2026-04-13
Anne Arundel County – Alcoholic Beverages – Barbershop and Beauty Salon License (Third Reading Passed)
HB328 · 2026-04-13
Bicounty Commissions – Public Ethics – Financial Disclosure Statements PG/MC 105-26 (Third Reading Passed)
HB282 · 2026-04-13
Adult Protective Services – Modifications (Third Reading Passed)
HB732 · 2026-04-13
Baltimore County Code of Public Local Laws – 2025 Edition – Legalization (Third Reading Passed)
SB311 · 2026-04-13
Education – The Blueprint for Maryland's Future – Revisions (Third Reading Passed)
HB625 · 2026-04-13
Human-Relevant Research Fund – Collection of Contributions – Responsible Entity (Third Reading Passed)
HB1149 · 2026-04-13
State Finance – Claims of the State – Settlement (Third Reading Passed)
HB833 · 2026-04-13
Commission to Advance Lithium-Ion Battery Safety in Maryland – Reestablishment (Third Reading Passed)
HB456 · 2026-04-13
Howard County – Alcoholic Beverages – Gift Basket Permit Ho. Co. 2-26 (Third Reading Passed)
HB406 · 2026-04-13
Prince George's County – Alcoholic Beverages – Multiple Licenses Prohibition – Exceptions PG 313-26 (Third Reading Passed)
HB684 · 2026-04-13
Health Insurance – Material Changes to Provider Networks – Notification and Special Enrollment Period (Third Reading Passed)
Complete voting record from LegiScan (showing the 60 most recent of 1244 total roll-call votes this session).
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