New Role and the Bills I’m Bringing

My New Role:  Vice Chair of the Economic Matters Committee

Speaker Joseline Pena-Melnyk has put her stamp on the Maryland House of Delegates with new leadership assignments.  I am deeply honored to have been named the Vice Chair of the Economic Matters Committee.  

My 2026 Bills

This year’s legislative session begins on January 14th.  I will be introducing 17 bills on a wide range of issues.  Linked below are brief fact sheets for most of my bills.  In the coming weeks, I will provide more detailed information about each one in my newsletter. Stay tuned!

Climate and Energy

• Affordable Solar Act

• PJM Exit Study

• Data Center Capacity 

• Grid-Enhancing Technologies

• Community Choice Aggregation Pilot

Economic Issues

• Unemployment Insurance Modernization Act

Immigration/Fighting Authoritarianism

• Data Protection in Federal Immigration Actions 

• No Kings Act (fact sheet coming soon!)

• Aviation Health and Safety Act (fact sheet coming soon!)

• Requiring Compliance with Constitution for Procurement (fact sheet coming soon!)

Food Systems

• Food Forests and Foraging

• Local Food for MoCo Schools

Public Safety and Consumer Protection 

• Fire Safety Training and Standards

• Individual Water Readers

​​Education, Mental Health, and Housing

• Full-Time Pay for MoCo Board of Education Members

• Mental Health Quality In Forensic Aftercare

• Limited Equity Co-Op Conversion

Sneak Peak on My Affordable Solar Act 

Did you know that Maryland generates more electricity from solar power than it does from coal?  Solar energy is also the fastest and most cost-effective way to build new energy generation.  My Affordable Solar Act will create incentives to ​bring more solar power on line quickly and to allow portable solar systems, also known as "balcony solar."  

Interested in understanding the issue on a deeper level?  Recently I discussed all things solar on a Maryland Energy Talk podcast with Host Jamie DeMarco.  Listen to it here.

Walk and Talk:  Sunday, January 25

Join me at my first “Walk and Talk” of the new year on Sunday, January 25th, from 2:00–4:00 pm, in the White Oak area.  Get details and R.S.V.P. here.

D20 Breakfast Club:  This Sunday

The next District 20 Breakfast Club event takes place Sunday, January 11, starting at 11:00 a.m., at El Golfo restaurant. It will feature a 2026 legislative preview presented by the District 20 Delegation members. The breakfast buffet cost is $20.

Need Help on a State Issue?

If you need help with a state issue, please contact my office at Lorig.Charkoudian@house.maryland.gov or leave us a message at (410)-841-3423.

Onward, 

Lorig Charkoudian