STATE BILLMD SB 168PASSED

Study to Evaluate Blockchain-Based Real Property Lease and Title Recordation and Verification

Requiring the State Department of Assessments and Taxation, in coordination with certain entities, to evaluate the use of blockchain technology for securely recording and verifying real property ownership and leases and to assess its potential for use by law enforcement and courts in resolving real property disputes involving squatting; and requiring the Department by December 31, 2026, in collaboration with certain other entities, to report the results of the study to the Governor and the General Assembly.

Status: Passed; Signed or otherwise enacted
Status date: May 26, 2026; 170 days ago
Current chamber: Senate
Session: 2026 Regular Session

MD SB 168 · PassedMay 26

Follow the legislation that affects what you sell.

Get started free

Free account · 30-second setup · No credit card

Prefer ChatGPT or Claude? Ask Civic IQ about this bill →

What it means for vendors

Civic IQ reads each bill for what it would fund, require or change for the agencies that buy.

What this bill would fund or requireThe spending and mandates in the bill, in plain languageTop matches free Why it matters for what you sellMatched to your products, with how to open the conversationTop matches free 1 signal from this bill in Civic IQSee them free →

Bill details

Last action: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 748 · May 26, 2026

Sponsor

RWRon WatsonSenator · Democrat · SD-023Primary sponsor

Bill history

Newest first.

May 26, 2026Approved by the Governor - Chapter 748Senate

Apr 10, 2026Passed EnrolledSenate

Apr 10, 2026Third Reading Passed (42-0)Senate

Apr 10, 2026Senate Concurs House AmendmentsSenate

Apr 10, 2026Third Reading Passed (119-14)House

Apr 8, 2026Second Reading Passed with AmendmentsHouse

Apr 8, 2026Favorable with Amendments {843420/1 AdoptedHouse

Apr 8, 2026Favorable with Amendments Report by Economic MattersHouse

Show 13 earlier actions

Apr 2, 2026Hearing 4/02 at 2:30 p.m.House

Apr 2, 2026Hearing canceledHouse

Apr 2, 2026Hearing 4/02 at 1:30 p.m.House

Apr 2, 2026Hearing canceledHouse

Mar 24, 2026Hearing 4/02 at 1:00 p.m.House

Mar 6, 2026Referred Economic MattersHouse

Mar 5, 2026Third Reading Passed (43-0)Senate

Mar 3, 2026Second Reading Passed with AmendmentsSenate

Mar 3, 2026Favorable with Amendments {363427/1 AdoptedSenate

Mar 2, 2026Favorable with Amendments Report by Budget and TaxationSenate

Jan 15, 2026Hearing 1/21 at 10:00 a.m.Senate

Jan 14, 2026First Reading Budget and TaxationSenate

Oct 31, 2025Pre-filedSenate

Recorded votes

Third Reading PassedMar 5, 2026 · Senate · 43 yea · 0 nayPassed

Third Reading PassedApr 10, 2026 · Senate · 42 yea · 0 nayPassed

Third Reading PassedApr 10, 2026 · House · 119 yea · 14 nayPassed

Subjects

Real Property
Applicants and Applications
Assessments and Taxation, Department of
Attorney General
Courts
Cybersecurity
Data
Escrow Accounts
Information Technology
Law Enforcement
Pilot Programs
Procurement
Reports
Standards and Best Practices
State Police, Department of
Sunset
Technology
Titles
Electronic Documents
Intergovernmental Cooperation
Privacy
Transfer of Goods
Recordation
Leases and Rent
Legal Aid
Digital Products

Read the bill at the source

This page follows the bill as the legislature records it. For the bill's full text and the official record, use the legislature's own site.

View on the legislature's site View on LegiScan

Bill data from LegiScan, licensed under CC BY 4.0.

Work in government? Get Civic IQ free →

State of Maryland profile →