MARYLAND – In the historic halls of the Maryland State House, one legislator is bridging the gap between diverse communities and the American political system. Dr. Harry Bhandari, the first Nepali-American elected to a state legislature in the United States, is completing an impactful eight-year tenure marked by landmark legislation and deep community service.

A Legacy of Legislative Success
During his time in the Maryland General Assembly, Delegate Bhandari has successfully authored and passed 29 bills into law [02:27]. His legislative work focuses on the vulnerable and those without a voice, including:

National Firsts: Legislation providing open captioning for the deaf and hard of hearing.
Cultural Recognition: Securing official state recognition for Dashain, a major Nepali festival—a first in U.S. history.
Public Safety & Health: Restricting sex offenders from entering schools in person and implementing measures to reduce emergency room wait times in hospitals.

Service Beyond the Bench
Dr. Bhandari’s commitment extends far beyond drafting policy. He describes his role as a “service provider” who must never be distant from the people.

Crisis Response: During the COVID-19 pandemic, his office played a critical role in assisting families with funeral arrangements for over 85 individuals, ensuring they received a dignified farewell [08:05]. To date, his office has helped facilitate funerals for approximately 450 community members.

Economic Relief: He helped recover over $11 million in unemployment benefits for residents struggling during the pandemic.

Infrastructure: Collaborating with colleagues, he secured funding for two brand-new schools—Rossville Elementary and Nottingham School.

Empowering the Next Generation
A former educator, Bhandari prioritizes the youth. His office runs a legislative internship program that has seen nearly 100 students graduate, providing them with first-hand knowledge of how American laws are made [11:20]. Additionally, he has secured hundreds of scholarships for students pursuing medical and law degrees.

A Philosophy of Global Brotherhood
Driven by the principle of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” (the world is one family), Bhandari emphasizes that leadership is about trust and commitment rather than just holding a position [12:10]. Whether working with federal partners like Senator Chris Van Hollen to resolve immigration issues [11:42] or securing $950,000 for Nepali community centers [10:14], his focus remains steadfast on the people he represents.

As the 449th session of the Maryland General Assembly concludes, Delegate Bhandari stands as a “strong example of dedication, service, and commitment” to the Maryland community.

Watch the full story here: From The Community To The Maryland State House