House Bill 2 revisions? “Nobody really knows,” speaker says

The legislature could adjourn for the year within the next week or so, but no revisions to House Bill 2 have publicly emerged yet.

House Speaker Tim Moore had little to say about the controversial LGBT law when asked on Thursday.

“There are a number of issues still being discussed, but I wouldn’t want to comment specifically,” he asid. “There’s clearly conversations still happening, but as far as what will happen, nobody really knows at this point.”

Gov. Pat McCrory called on legislators months ago to repeal a provision that limits employment discrimination lawsuits in state courts, although McCrory has been supportive of the law’s best-known provision on transgender bathroom use.

Several weeks ago, Rep. Darren Jackson,a vocal opponent of HB2, described an outline of proposed legislation that he’d seen circulating among Republican lawmakers.

According to Jackson, the bill wouldn’t change the provision requiring people in government facilities to use the bathroom that corresponds to the gender on their birth certificate. But it would make an exception for transgender people who were born in states that don’t allow them to change their birth certificates after gender reassignment surgery.

The bill would restore the ability to file employment discrimination lawsuits in state courts and create tougher penalties for people who commit crimes in bathrooms, Jackson said.

No such bill has been filed yet. If the legislature adjourns without changing HB2, no changes can be made until the General Assembly returns in January.

Moore said next week will likely focus on passing a final budget. “I certainly believe it’s possible that we could be done with the budget at the end of next week, and perhaps even done with the session at the end of the week or the first of the next week,” he said.

House Democratic Leader Larry Hall again called for the repeal of HB2 on Thursday. “Ending this session without a full repeal of #HB2 would be an injustice – no reason we shouldn’t vote on repealing it ASAP!” he tweeted.

This story was originally published June 23, 2016 at 4:12 PM with the headline "House Bill 2 revisions? “Nobody really knows,” speaker says."