HB2 Deal Signed by Governor

The proposal agreed to by state leaders over House Bill 2 on Wednesday night has now been signed by Democratic Governor Roy Cooper.

The proposal, House Bill 142, passed from the Senate Rules Committee through the full Senate relatively easily on Thursday morning.

But debate in the House called the future of the HB2 deal into doubt momentarily.

The discussion was focused on the legislation that was billed as a compromise between Republican General Assembly leaders and Cooper.

HB142 proposed repealing House Bill 2. But it then gave sole authority to regulate multi-occupancy restrooms, showers and changing facilities going forward. The proposal also says local governments cannot “enact or amend” nondiscrimination ordinances that regulate private employment practices or public accommodations.

Chapel Hill Mayor Pam Hemminger discussed the impact of HB142 with Aaron Keck on WCHL.

 

The measure passed the full Senate on a 32-16 vote and the full House by a 70-48 margin. Orange County Senator Valerie Foushee and House Representatives Verla Insko and Graig Meyer all voted against HB142.

Graig Meyer discussed his “no” vote with Aaron Keck and Blake Hodge on WCHL.

 

LGBT advocacy organizations immediately decried the proposal when it was made public Wednesday night saying it still discriminated against LGBT residents by not allowing local governments to extend protections to the group. Advocacy organizations on the other side of the aisle also lobbied against HB142 saying there was nothing wrong with HB2 as it was written.

Public Policy Polling director Tom Jensen discussed public opinion on the HB2/HB142 issue with Aaron Keck.

 

HB2, which had its one-year anniversary last week, was known as the worst piece of anti-LGBT legislation in the nation.

The NCAA moved championship events, including the first and second rounds of this year’s men’s basketball tournament, out of North Carolina due to HB2. And the NCAA had imposed a mid-day Thursday deadline for a satisfactory resolution to HB2 or the organization would not award North Carolina any events through 2022.

Attorney and former Chapel Hill mayor Mark Kleinschmidt discussed HB142 – and the ongoing lawsuits surrounding the issue – with Aaron Keck on WCHL.

 

There is still no word from the NCAA if this bill goes far enough to bring those championships back to the Tar Heel state.