New Jersey politicians are pressing forward with plans to authorize casino gaming outside Atlantic City.

On Thursday, committees in both of the state’s legislative chambers approved resolutions that would amend the state constitution to authorize casino gambling outside Atlantic City. The ultimate plan is to put the issue on a ballot referendum in November 2016 and allow state voters to choose thumbs up or down.

Both the Assembly and Senate plans would okay two casinos in separate counties in North Jersey, which includes the casino-hungry Meadowlands complex. But Atlantic City officials and some casino operators fear that increased competition is the last thing AC needs, as the city’s eight surviving casinos are only now getting back on their feet after witnessing four venues close in 2014.

Both the Assembly and Senate resolutions seek to allay these fears by ensuring that a percentage of the tax revenue generated by the new casinos would go to AC to offset any lost business. But the plans offer very different formulas for achieving this aim.