• Home
  • News
  • Fortune 500
  • Tech
  • Finance
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia
Leadership

North Carolina Nears Repeal of Controversial Bathroom Bill

Barb Darrow
By
Barb Darrow
Barb Darrow
Down Arrow Button Icon
Barb Darrow
By
Barb Darrow
Barb Darrow
Down Arrow Button Icon
March 30, 2017, 1:37 PM ET

North Carolina legislators are nearing a compromise that would repeal the state’s controversial bathroom law that restricts transgender people from using public bathrooms or locker rooms of their choice, according to several news reports.

The repeal bill, which is likely to be voted on late Thursday, is expected to pass, according to The Charlotte Observer.

Businesses had put intense pressure on North Carolina legislators to reverse course on the legislation, which was originally passed in April. Companies including Bank of America (BAC), the state’s largest employer, as well as Salesforce (CRM), and IBM (IBM). PayPal (PYPL) had cancelled plans to expand in North Carolina.

Additionally, many companies and out-of-state government agencies prohibited work travel to the state, and Duke University said that the bill would hurt recruiting. Meanwhile, the NCAA, the NBA, and a number of high-profile musicians moved events originally scheduled for North Carolina to other states.

Get Data Sheet, Fortune’s technology newsletter.

Earlier this week an Associated Press survey estimated that the bill would cost North Carolina nearly $4 billion in lost business over the next 12 years.

The state Senate approved the repeal late on Wednesday, clearing the way for it to proceed to a full House vote. While this latest bill repeals the law, known as HB2, it also blocks any future anti-discrimination ordinances passed at the local level.

Some Democrats and LGBT advocates opposed the repeal bill because of that prohibition. Such an ordinance in Charlotte that would have made it illegal to prevent LGBT people from using bathrooms of their choice prompted the state’s original bathroom law as a countermeasure.

The compromise has been blessed by both Republican leaders who pushed through the H2B legislation as well as by Democrat Gov. Roy Cooper, who as attorney general, blasted the bathroom bill last year and refused to defend it against lawsuits.

About the Author
Barb Darrow
By Barb Darrow
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • Future 50
  • World’s Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
Sections
  • Finance
  • Leadership
  • Success
  • Tech
  • Asia
  • Europe
  • Environment
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Health
  • Retail
  • Lifestyle
  • Politics
  • Newsletters
  • Magazine
  • Features
  • Commentary
  • Mpw
  • CEO Initiative
  • Conferences
  • Personal Finance
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
About Us
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map

© 2025 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.