BREAKING: North Carolina governor says he signed measure rolling back state's 'bathroom bill' despite criticism from LGBT groups.
— The Associated Press (@AP) March 30, 2017
UPDATE 4:20 p.m. EST:
Cooper signed the bill.
Bill rolling back North Carolina's contentious LGBT law passes General Assembly, heads to governor, who supports it. https://t.co/tG0sGhuYIY
— The Associated Press (@AP) March 30, 2017
UPDATE 1:48 p.m. EST:
It's headed for Cooper's desk.
BREAKING: A bill undoing North Carolina's contentious LGBT 'bathroom law' clears key hurdle when state senators approve measure.
— The Associated Press (@AP) March 30, 2017
UPDATE 11:42 a.m. EST:
The bill cleared a "key hurdle."
ORIGINAL STORY: North Carolina Republican lawmakers and Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper have struck a deal to repeal the controversial transgender bathroom bill HB-2.
The deal, described as a compromise, repeals the bill and leaves regulation of multi-occupancy bathrooms to the state. It also institutes a temporary ban on local anti-discrimination ordinances similar to Charlotte's LGBT protection bill until December 2020.
#BREAKING
— Devon Heinen (@DevonHeinen) March 30, 2017
A deal is in place to repeal North Carolina's #HB2 / #BathroomBill, acc'd to joint statement by Sen. Phil Berger & Rep. Tim Moore. pic.twitter.com/dbg0VarTdI
Here's a statement from the state legislature.
The deal was announced just before the Thursday deadline announced by the NCAA. If HB-2 was not repealed in time, the NCAA would not hold events in the state.
Cooper said in a statement the bill was "not perfect," but he supported it regardless since it "begins to repair our reputation. The repeal bill must be heard by the state Senate Rules Committee, then the full Senate, then the state House before reaching Cooper's desk.
Multiple attempts to repeal the bill have failed in recent months.
This news comes days after the Associated Press calculated the bill would cost the state $3.76 billion in lost business over a dozen years.
Reports are coming out that a "deal" has been reached to "repeal" HB2. This is not true. The proposed backroom deal hurts LGBTQ people.
— Raymond Braun (@raymondbraun) March 30, 2017
But some LGBT activists argued the new deal was even worse.
The "deal" will further discrimination against trans people and prohibit cities in N.C. from passing LGBTQ non-discrimination protections.
— Raymond Braun (@raymondbraun) March 30, 2017
FACT: If passed this #HB2 "deal" will box #LGBTQ people out of local nondiscrimination protections in a state w/out statewide protections.
— HumanRightsCampaign (@HRC) March 30, 2017
BOYCOTTS WORK.
— Shaun King (@ShaunKing) March 30, 2017
North Carolina was poised to lose BILLIONS & BILLIONS of dollars over this. They buckled under that economic pressure. https://t.co/WvdNcyhUSk
But other activists heralded it as a victory.
I urge #NCGA & @NC_Governor to finally stick with this deal that still respects privacy and let Supreme Court resolve issue for our nation.
— Pat McCrory (@PatMcCroryNC) March 30, 2017
Even former Gov. Pat McCrory, who signed HB-2, supported the repeal deal.
This is all you need to know about the #HB2 “deal." Warning Dems, kiss of death. #ncpol https://t.co/ROAISD2mMI
— Chad Griffin (@ChadHGriffin) March 30, 2017
His support alarmed some opponents of the bill.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.