# Maryland SB 0168: Study to Evaluate Blockchain-Based Real Property Lease and Title Recordation and Verification

Maryland SB 0168, Study to Evaluate Blockchain-Based Real Property Lease and Title Recordation and Verification, is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Ron Watson (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-05-26 (Approved by the Governor - Chapter 748) (as of 2026-10-19).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0168-2026RS
- As of: 2026-10-19
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Maryland SB 0168
- State: Maryland
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Study to Evaluate Blockchain-Based Real Property Lease and Title Recordation and Verification
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2025-10-31
- Last action: 2026-05-26, Approved by the Governor - Chapter 748
- Sponsor: Ron Watson (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Real Property, Applicants and Applications, Assessments and Taxation, Department of, Attorney General, Courts -see also- AppCt; Circuit; District; Orphans'; etc., Cybersecurity, Data -see also- Census; Demographics, Digital Products -see also- Digital Images, Electronic Documents, Escrow Accounts, Information Technology, Intergovernmental Cooperation -see also- AdmAgn; Cmts; etc., Law Enforcement -see also- SRO; Sheriffs; State Police, Leases and Rent, Legal Aid, Pilot Programs, Privacy, Procurement, Recordation, Reports, Standards and Best Practices, State Police, Department of, Sunset, Technology -see also- AeroT; BioT; EnergyT; InfoT; MedT; etc, Titles -see also- Deeds, Transfer of Goods -see also- Goods&Svc; Leas&Rnt; RetailSale
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 3 (204 yes, 14 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 1

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Law takes effect June 1, 2026: mixed, low. This law takes effect on June 1, 2026. State agencies start the blockchain property study and any pilot planning then. There is no statewide registry or new filing for owners yet. The State reports findings and recommendations by December 31, 2026.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Ron Watson (Democratic), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-04-10 | Senate | Third Reading Passed | pass | 42 | 0 | 2 |
| 2026-04-10 | House | Third Reading Passed | pass | 119 | 14 | 4 |
| 2026-03-05 | Senate | Third Reading Passed | pass | 43 | 0 |   |

## Actions (21)

- 2026-05-26: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 748
- 2026-04-10: Passed Enrolled (Senate)
- 2026-04-10: Third Reading Passed (42-0) (Senate)
- 2026-04-10: Senate Concurs House Amendments (Senate)
- 2026-04-10: Third Reading Passed (119-14) (House)
- 2026-04-08: Second Reading Passed with Amendments (House)
- 2026-04-08: Favorable with Amendments {843420/1 Adopted (House)
- 2026-04-08: Favorable with Amendments Report by Economic Matters (House)
- 2026-04-02: Hearing 4/02 at 2:30 p.m. (House)
- 2026-04-02: Hearing canceled (House)
- 2026-04-02: Hearing 4/02 at 1:30 p.m. (House)
- 2026-04-02: Hearing canceled (House)
- 2026-03-24: Hearing 4/02 at 1:00 p.m. (House)
- 2026-03-06: Referred Economic Matters (House)
- 2026-03-05: Third Reading Passed (43-0) (Senate)
- 2026-03-03: Second Reading Passed with Amendments (Senate)
- 2026-03-03: Favorable with Amendments {363427/1 Adopted (Senate)
- 2026-03-02: Favorable with Amendments Report by Budget and Taxation (Senate)
- 2026-01-15: Hearing 1/21 at 10:00 a.m. (Senate)
- 2026-01-14: First Reading Budget and Taxation (Senate)
- 2025-10-31: Pre-filed (Senate)

## Bill text

- Enacted, 2026-05-26: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Chapters_noln/CH_748_sb0168e.pdf)
- Enrolled, 2026-04-10: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0168e.pdf)
- Third Reading, 2026-03-03: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0168t.pdf)
- First Reading, 2026-01-14: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0168f.pdf)

## Related bills

- SB 0496: Maryland Medical Assistance Program - Coverage for the Treatment of Obesity - Authorization (became law)
- SB 0366: Motor Vehicles - Intelligent Speed Assistance System Pilot Program - Establishment (became law)
- SB 0244: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program (became law)
- SB 0148: Income Tax - Credit for 9-1-1 Specialist Retirement Income (Supporting Our 9-1-1 Specialists Act) (became law)
- SB 0016: Child Support - Earnings Withholdings Limits (became law)
- HB 0529: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program (became law)

## Sources
- [Enacted (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Chapters_noln/CH_748_sb0168e.pdf)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0168e.pdf)
- [Third Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0168t.pdf)
- [First Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0168f.pdf)

## Related
- [SB 0496: Maryland Medical Assistance Program - Coverage for the Treatment of Obesity - A…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0496-2026RS)
- [SB 0366: Motor Vehicles - Intelligent Speed Assistance System Pilot Program - Establishm…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0366-2026RS)
- [SB 0244: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0244-2026RS)
- [SB 0148: Income Tax - Credit for 9-1-1 Specialist Retirement Income (Supporting Our 9-1-…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0148-2026RS)
- [SB 0016: Child Support - Earnings Withholdings Limits](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0016-2026RS)
- [HB 0529: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB0529-2026RS)
- [Maryland bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/maryland/bills)
- [Maryland state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/maryland)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0168-2026RS (as of 2026-10-19).