Ron Watson D

Requiring the State Board of Elections or the local boards of elections to automatically send an absentee ballot to each registered voter in pretrial detention in a correctional facility without the voter having to submit an absentee ballot application.

Establishing a Class C-PCL (premium cigar lounge) alcoholic beverages license for use in conjunction with a certain tobacco products retailer license; authorizing a local licensing board to issue the license; exempting a holder of the license from the Clean Indoor Air Act; and altering a certain period of time during which a local alcoholic beverages license may not be issued …

Altering certain provisions of law regarding the prohibition on certain departments of State government denying an occupational license or certificate to an applicant solely on the basis of the criminal history of the applicant by prohibiting the State Board of Barbers and the State Board of Cosmetologists in the Maryland Department of Labor from requiring disclosure of certain actions on …

Altering certain provisions relating to the filing, maintenance, and transmittal of land records; and defining "land record" as any document recorded by a clerk of the circuit court relating to property.

Authorizing the State Lottery and Gaming Control Commission to issue certain licenses to certain qualified applicants to conduct or participate in certain Internet gaming and online bingo operations in the State; requiring the Commission to regulate Internet gaming, online bingo, and the conduct of Internet gaming and online bingo in the State; requiring an Internet gaming licensee and online bingo …

Authorizing the State Lottery and Gaming Control Commission to issue certain licenses to certain qualified applicants to conduct or participate in certain Internet skill-based gaming operations in the State; requiring the Commission to regulate Internet skill-based gaming and the conduct of Internet skill-based gaming in the State; authorizing the Governor, on recommendation of the Commission, to enter into certain multijurisdictional …

Altering, to 45 days before voting and early voting for a primary election, general election, or vote on a proposition, the time period during which a common ownership community may restrict the display of candidate or proposition signs.

Requiring the State Fire Prevention Commission to adopt regulations that incorporate by reference sections 30.7.5 and 31.7.5 of the National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA) Life Safety Code (2024 Edition) and authorize the placement of trash and recycling in corridors and exits in accordance with the NFPA Life Safety Code.

Establishing requirements for the cleaning and sanitization of certain solid waste containers; requiring the owner of a solid waste container to contract with a professional cleaning service to clean and sanitize the container at least once per month and maintain documentation of each cleaning and sanitization service rendered; etc.

Requiring the State Department of Education to develop or approve an artificial intelligence training program for members of county boards of education that includes foundational training and continuing annual training; requiring each member of a county board to complete an artificial intelligence training program each year that covers developments in artificial intelligence technology, evolving best practices for use in education …

Establishing the Blockchain-Based Real Property Title Pilot Program in the State Department of Assessments and Taxation to explore the use of blockchain technology for securely recording and verifying real property ownership and to assess its potential for use by law enforcement and courts in resolving real property disputes involving squatting.

Adding Article 12 of the Uniform Commercial Code to the Maryland Uniform Commercial Code to establish provisions governing the transfer of property rights in certain controllable electronic records, controllable accounts, and controllable payment intangibles.

Prohibiting a person with the intent to defraud another from creating, aiding in the creation of, or possessing a counterfeit lease of real property or rental agreement relating to real property; etc.

Providing that the General Assembly may authorize, by law, the State Lottery and Gaming Control Commission to issue certain Internet gaming licenses; requiring certain implementation legislation to include certain criteria and specifications, subject to a certain limitation; declaring the intent of the General Assembly that certain revenues be used for dedicated purposes including the funding of public education; and submitting …

Repealing a requirement that a printed deed or other instrument offered for recordation include certain margins; and requiring the clerk of the circuit court of a county to date each change or correction made to information in the general alphabetical index on the horizontal line on which the change or correction was made.

Authorizing a credit against the State income tax for certain taxpayers who are at least 77 years old and have a federal adjusted gross income not exceeding $175,000 for a single taxpayer, or $250,000 for spouses filing jointly, or for a certain surviving spouse; and applying the Act to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025.

Prohibiting certain regulation of certain activities involving digital assets by an agency or other instrumentality of the State or a political subdivision of the State; and clarifying that the provision of digital asset staking as a service is excluded from a certain definition and certain filing and registration requirements under the Maryland Securities Act.

Exempting a member of the General Assembly, a filed candidate for election to the General Assembly, or a member-elect of the General Assembly from the prohibition against receiving earned income from an executive unit or political subdivision of the State under certain circumstances.

Requiring each county board of education to collect data on energy usage and report the data collected to the Interagency Commission on School Construction; requiring the Commission to adopt regulations specifying the data to be collected and the means and frequency of reporting; and requiring the Commission to analyze the data collected and provide recommendations for improving school building energy …

Authorizing a licensed real estate broker, a licensed associate real estate broker, or a licensed real estate salesperson to establish nonagency relationships to act as a real estate transaction broker in a residential real estate transaction under certain circumstances; establishing the duties of a transaction broker in a transaction brokerage; requiring the State Real Estate Commission to develop a certain …

Establishing the Digital Asset and Blockchain Technology Task Force to study and make recommendations regarding the use and regulation of blockchain technology and cryptocurrency in the State; and requiring the Task Force to report its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly by October 1, 2027.

Repealing the prohibition on applicants for and holders of video lottery operation licenses and persons who own an interest in video lottery facility operations in the State from directly or indirectly making contributions to certain campaign finance entities.