After his defeat for the mayoralty of Frederick City by William J. Holtzinger, Young maintained a semi-retired lifestyle.

Young was sworn in on January 12, 2011 and appointed to the Senate's Education, Health and Environmental Affairs Committee.

Senator Young also serves on the Alcoholic Beverages, Environment, and Labor, Licensing, and Regulations Subcommittees.

Senator Young has voted in favor of gay marriage, the Maryland Dream Act, congressional redistricting, prohibiting smoking in a car where children are present, and to expand gambling.

Senator Young sits on the Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee and is Chair of the Comptrollers Issues Subcommittee which deals with Alcohol, Labor, Licensing, and Regulations.

He also serves on the Education Subcommittee as well as the Joint Committee on Program Open Space and Agricultural Preservation.

He endorsed his wife, Karen Lewis Young, to succeed him in representing Maryland's 3rd legislative district.

[4] Young is a member of a number of organizations: 1968–Present he helped create and serves on the board of the Frederick Community Action Agency, 2006–present he is on the board of directors for Goodwill Industries, 2008–present he is on the advisory board for Maryland Shakespeare Theater, the president of East Frederick Rising from 2006-2010, and a member of the following organizations: Rotary Club of Carroll Creek, 1000 Friends of Maryland, American Planning Association, American Legion, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Fraternal Order of Elks, Fraternal Order of Owls, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), U.S. Tennis Association, and the Urban Land Institute.