New Jersey 222nd Legislature Status: Introduced 3 D cosponsors

A 4688 — Excludes biomass, solar, and wind energy systems located on rooftops or exception areas from certain size restrictions and approval requirements applicable to preserved farmland.*

Last action — REP/ACA 2RA

  1. 1
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed General Assembly
  4. 4
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been introduced in the General Assembly. Introduced March 16, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

Next likely step: a committee referral and hearing.

Odds of enactment

Low chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a low chance of becoming law.

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A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Stalled 32% · moderate confidence

  • Introduced

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 3 sponsors

    3 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (3 D).

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 2 recorded votes so far.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

In plain language

The bill allows biomass, solar, and wind energy systems on preserved farmland without certain restrictions.

This bill permits landowners of preserved farmland in New Jersey to install biomass, solar, and wind energy systems without some size restrictions. These systems must not significantly interfere with agricultural use and must be owned by the landowner.

What this means for you
  • Farmers: This bill provides farmers more freedom to install renewable energy systems without size limitations.

Summary

Biomass, solar, and wind energy systems-concerns certain farmland

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

16 added · 26 removed

Plain-language change summary

The bill has been amended to specify that biomass, solar, and wind energy systems located on rooftops or in exception areas are excluded from certain size restrictions that typically apply to preserved farmland. This change means that these energy systems will not be restricted by the requirement to limit their annual energy generation capacity or the area they occupy on the farm. As a result, facilities in these locations may have more flexibility in their development and capacity.

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A4688 ASSEMBLY, No.
A4688 1R [First Reprint] ASSEMBLY, No.
KARABINCHAK District 18 (Middlesex)         SYNOPSIS      Excludes biomass, solar, and wind energy systems located on rooftops, unpreserved farmland, or exception areas from certain size restrictions applicable to preserved farmland.
KARABINCHAK District 18 (Middlesex)         SYNOPSIS       Excludes biomass, solar, and wind energy systems located on rooftops or exception areas from certain size restrictions applicable to preserved farmland.
  CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT      As introduced.
  CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT      As reported by the Assembly Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee on May 4, 2026, with amendments.
of this section shall not include energy generated from facilities, structures, or equipment [existing] located on the roofs of buildings or other structures on the farm [as of the date of enactment of P.L.2009, c.213 (C.4:1C-32.4 et al.)] , on unpreserved farmland, or in an exception area.       c.     A landowner shall seek and obtain the approval of the committee before constructing, installing, and operating biomass, solar, or wind energy generation facilities, structures, and equipment on the farm as allowed pursuant to subsection a.
of this section shall not include energy generated from facilities, structures, or equipment [existing] located on the roofs of buildings or other structures on the farm[as of the date of enactment of P.L.2009, c.213 (C.4:1C-32.4 et al.)] , 1[on unpreserved farmland,]1 or in an exception area.       c.     A landowner shall seek and obtain the approval of the committee before constructing, installing, and operating biomass, solar, or wind energy generation facilities, structures, and equipment on the farm as allowed pursuant to subsection a.
    STATEMENT        This bill would amend section of P.L.2009, c.213 (C.4:1C-32.4), which authorizes the construction of biomass, solar, and wind energy facilities, structures, and equipment on preserved farmland, in order to exempt facilities, structures, and equipment that are located on rooftops, unpreserved land, or exception areas from the requirement that they be limited:
(1) in annual energy generation capacity to the previous calendar year’s energy demand plus 10 percent;
or (2) to occupying no more than one percent of the area of the entire farm.  Under this bill, biomass, solar, and wind energy facilities, structures, and equipment that are located on a rooftop, on unpreserved farmland, or in an exception area would not be subject to these statutory size restrictions.
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How this bill changes current law

1 change Share ↗

AI-generated reading aid from the bill's amendatory text — verify against the official bill.

This bill amends 1 section(s) of the New Jersey statutes: N.J.S.A. 4:1C-32.4.

  • N.J.S.A. 4:1C-32.4

    with the installer of the biomass, solar, or wind energy generation facilities, structures, or equipment by which the landowner uses the income or credits realized from the biomass, solar, or wind energy generation to purchase the facilities, structures, or equipment limit subparagraph (a) of existing as of the date of enactment of P.L.2009, c.213 (C.4:1C-32.4 et al.) ⟦INS⟧,⟦/INS⟧ ⟦INS⟧on unpreserved farmland,⟦/INS⟧ ⟦INS⟧in⟦/INS⟧ → or leased , except as provided in subsection b. of this section limits located , on unpreserved farmland, or in on an exception area Committee approval shall not be required for biomass, solar, or wind energy generation facilities, structures, and equipment located on exception areas of the farm.

    amended

Action History

  1. REP/ACA 2RA

  2. REP/ACA REF ATU

  3. INT 1RA REF AAN

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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3 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 117 not signed on

Sponsors (3)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (117)

117 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 117 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

Committee vote — ATU

Passed 10 Yea · 0 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democrat 7000
Republican 3000
Total 10000
% of votes cast 100%0%0%0%
How each member voted (10)
Member Party Vote
Bailey Jr., David Democrat Yea
DeAngelo, Wayne P. Democrat Yea
Egan, Kevin P. Democrat Yea
Karabinchak, Robert J. Democrat Yea
Katz, Andrea Democrat Yea
Spearman, William W. Democrat Yea
Walker, Jerry Democrat Yea
Barlas, Al Republican Yea
Kanitra, Paul Republican Yea
Sauickie, Alex Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

agriculture energy
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does A 4688 do?
Biomass, solar, and wind energy systems-concerns certain farmland
Who sponsors A 4688?
A 4688 is sponsored by Bailey Jr., David (Democrat), Katz, Andrea (Democrat), and Karabinchak, Robert J. (Democrat).
What is the current status of A 4688?
This bill has been introduced in the General Assembly. Introduced March 16, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track A 4688?
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