North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper has put forward another proposal aimed at repealing House Bill 2.

“We’re approaching a year under the burden of House Bill 2,” Cooper said at a press conference Tuesday. “But we can’t let this law see its first birthday.”

The push to repeal House Bill 2, which advocates maintain is the worst piece of anti-LGBT legislation in the nation, has been renewed recently. A letter to state lawmakers said that North Carolina was at risk of losing NCAA championship events through the spring of 2022 if the law was not repealed before those decisions were made.

“North Carolina has 133 bids in for championships and all of them could be gone soon,” Cooper said. “And these are bids in communities all over North Carolina.”

Cooper added this proposal would help the entire economy, beyond those impacted by the NCAA and Atlantic Coast Conference championship bans.

“Right now, there are companies considering brining thousands of additional, good-paying jobs to North Carolina,” Cooper said. “But some of them are hesitant because of House Bill 2.

“I know, because I’ve talked to them.”

The target that Cooper put forward on Tuesday was having the law repealed by the end of the month.

To accomplish that goal, after an apparent deal to repeal the law fell through in December, Cooper’s new proposal has three parts.

The first would repeal the law. The second portion would increase punishments for crime’s committed in public restrooms.

“Crimes that violate safety, security and privacy of people in public bathrooms or dressing rooms,” Cooper described. “It will send a message to criminals that punishment is more severe if you commit crimes there.”

Senate Democratic leader Dan Blue accompanied Cooper and House Democratic leader Darren Jackson at the press conference. Blue said that he was hesitant to agree to increase penalties on any crimes.

“I’ve seen incarcerations misused and overused enough in my career, that I do not typically support harsher penalties,” Blue said. “However, in order to get a compromise on House Bill 2, I will urge the Senate Democrats to support this proposal, and I believe that they will.”

Jackson agreed with Blue that Democrats, as a whole, would not typically support increasing punishment possibilities.

“Not all Democratic House members are comfortable increasing criminal penalties for offenses,” Jackson said. “But time is short. And in the spirit of compromise, we are open to increased penalties.”

The final provision of the proposal require local government bodies to alert the General Assembly 30 days prior to voting on local nondiscrimination ordinances.

A spokesperson for Senate President Pro-Tem Phil Berger issued a statement after the press conference Tuesday saying it was the first Berger’s office had heard of the compromise pitch.

LGBT advocacy groups the Human Rights Campaign and Equality NC issued a joint release Tuesday saying the groups would be pleased if the law was repealed but did not support the “unnecessary legislation” associated with the additional provisions of the proposal.

Other pieces of legislation have been introduced during the long legislative session that would repeal the legislation. It is still unclear if any of the pieces will be moved on during the session.