The Maryland Freedom Caucus announced its 2026 legislative platform on December 11, 2025, in Annapolis, focusing on public safety, government accountability, education and energy reform under the slogan “Safer, Freer, More Prosperous Maryland.” The group, comprising seven Republican delegates, outlined initiatives to protect women’s sports, enhance victims’ rights, audit Medicaid, expand school choice and reverse energy policies contributing to higher electricity costs.
Chair Delegate Matt Morgan of District 29A in St. Mary’s County framed the mission in the press release: “The Maryland Freedom Caucus will keep pressuring both parties whenever the legislature strays from the people we serve. Our role is to stand firm, be honest, and fight for policies that make Maryland safer, freer, and more prosperous. We will stand our ground, hold our colleagues accountable for the results of their policies, and not waver because Maryland is worth saving.”
Vice Chair Delegate Kathy Szeliga of District 7A in Baltimore County highlighted protections for girls: “Maryland girls and parents deserve the peace of mind that their locker rooms, classrooms, and athletic fields are safe and fair. Our caucus is proud to stand with them and restore fairness to girls’ sports and private spaces by ensuring those areas are reserved for biological girls.”
Delegate Lauren Arikan of District 7B in Harford County addressed child safety measures: “I look forward to continuing to support the Freedom Caucus in championing bills that support the rights of Maryland families and protect children. Expect legislation that bans the chemical and medical gender transitioning of innocent minor children. New this session will be my bill to make sure that individuals with pending felony charges and those caught with illegal firearms will no longer be in Maryland classrooms with our most vulnerable children.”
Delegate Robin Grammer of District 6 in Baltimore County emphasized transparency: “When government forgets its duty to protect the innocent, society breaks down. Our agenda restores order, protects victims, and ensures state agencies are held to the highest standards of transparency and accountability.”
Whip Delegate Ryan Nawrocki of District 7A in Baltimore County stressed family priorities: “Marylanders deserve a government that puts families first, not activists, not criminals, and not special interests. The Freedom Caucus is committed to restoring accountability and getting our state back on track.”
Delegate Mark Fisher of District 27C in Calvert County criticized energy policies: “Annapolis Democrats’ inflationary ‘green’ policies caused soaring electricity prices. The Freedom Caucus has solutions.”
Delegate Brian Chisholm of District 31 in Anne Arundel County detailed economic focuses: “Our primary legislative focus this year is to restore energy choice to the 300,000 Marylanders who lost it when the 2024 SB1 bill created a state-run monopoly. Along with legislation to withdraw Maryland from the disastrous and ‘voluntary’ Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative—which has driven energy prices skyrocketing while becoming a slush fund for political leaders and ideological allies—the Maryland Freedom Caucus will be forcing energy reform to be front and center in 2026.”
The platform includes repealing the Climate Solutions Now Act of 2022, withdrawing from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, eliminating EmPOWER mandates, reducing regulatory barriers and removing taxes on tips and overtime. On election integrity, the caucus plans legislation addressing vulnerabilities highlighted by the case of Ian Roberts, an undocumented immigrant from Guyana found on Maryland voter rolls after his arrest by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in September 2025. Roberts, a former Iowa school superintendent who lived in Maryland, falsely claimed U.S. citizenship on his registration application, prompting calls for voter ID requirements and citizenship verification. State election officials released unredacted records on December 2, 2025, confirming his registration from 2014 to 2024, during which he voted in multiple elections.
The Maryland Freedom Caucus formed on January 14, 2025, as a state-level counterpart to the national House Freedom Caucus, established in 2015 to advocate for limited government and fiscal responsibility. The Maryland group, with members representing over one million residents, positions itself as a conservative voice within the Republican minority in the General Assembly, where Democrats hold supermajorities in both chambers. The caucus has grown from its initial announcement, gaining endorsements and visibility amid debates over government spending.
The 2026 session of the Maryland General Assembly convenes January 14 and adjourns April 13, spanning 90 days as mandated by the state constitution. Bills must be introduced by February 9 for guaranteed hearings in the Senate, with crossover deadlines in March ensuring timely consideration between chambers. The governor has until May 3 to sign or veto legislation, except emergencies effective immediately.
Energy priorities target the 2024 SB1, which altered retail energy marketing by prohibiting certain pricing practices and effectively limiting consumer choice, leading to claims of a return to utility monopolies. The bill required licenses for energy salespeople and capped rates, impacting suppliers’ ability to offer competitive plans. Critics argued it eliminated options for fixed-rate contracts amid rising costs.
The Climate Solutions Now Act of 2022 set ambitious goals, requiring a 60 percent greenhouse gas reduction by 2031 from 2006 levels and net-zero emissions by 2045. Maryland’s participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, a cap-and-trade program for power plants, has generated proceeds invested in energy efficiency, but the caucus views it as driving up prices without sufficient benefits. State reports show emissions fell 34 percent from 2006 to 2022, led by electricity sector declines.
In Southern Maryland, where Delegates Morgan and Fisher serve, energy costs affect rural communities reliant on utilities like Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative. The region’s economy, tied to agriculture and federal installations, faces higher bills from policies the caucus aims to repeal. The group opposes all tax increases, aligning with national Freedom Caucus principles under Chairman Andy Harris of Maryland’s First District, re-elected in 2025.