Plug-in solar is sweeping the nation.
What started as a fringe, under-the-radar DIY movement (look up “guerrilla solar”) will soon be a legally protected appliance class across the United States.
Curious where your state stands on legalizing anyone’s right to harvest sunlight? Read on.
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When it comes to plug-in solar, states have wildly different attitudes.
A few have made moves to eliminate utility red tape, while others have killed bills under heavy pressure from utility and labor monopolies.
States where legislation has passed
Five states have officially signed plug-in solar bills into law. These are:
Utah: The pioneer that started the movement when they signed their 1,200W limit into law in March 2025.
Maine & Virginia: Both signed their respective 1,200W limit bills into law in April 2026.
Colorado: Signed into law on May 7, 2026. HB 26-1007 sets the national high-water mark with a 1,920W limit and explicitly stops HOAs from interfering with homeowners’ rights to put a few solar panels on their property.
Maryland: Signed into law on May 12, 2026. HB 1532 is unique because it specifically exempts smaller systems under 391W from needing UL certification or building code alterations.
Connecticut: HB 5340 passed both chambers on June 4th
States where legislation is advancing
These states have active, moving legislation.
Awaiting Signature: New York, New Hampshire, and Vermont.
Active in Chambers: Illinois (SB 3104 successfully advanced out of committee), California, Massachusetts, Hawaii, Delaware, North Carolina, Oklahoma, and Washington, D.C.
States where legislation’s been killed stone dead
Utility pushback, union opposition, and legislative gridlock effectively stalled progress in 11 states for the 2026 session.
The Casualties: Washington (the plug-in solar exemption was explicitly stripped from a broader energy bill before passage), New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Wyoming, Indiana, Missouri, Arizona, New Mexico, Oregon, Georgia, and Idaho. Opponents in these states largely cited fire risks and technical interconnection concerns, causing bills to either fail a floor vote or die in committee. Sponsors in these states are forced to regroup for 2027.
States with no Legislation
16 states remain entirely without explicit legislation. Utilities in these states continue to apply outdated, heavy-handed interconnection rules designed for massive rooftop arrays to simple 120V plug-in systems.
The Holdouts: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.
Sources:
https://pluginsolarguide.com/
https://www.brightsaver.org/legislation-tracker/
https://pluginsolarusa.com/
https://www.reddit.com/r/pluginsolarusa/
