'Bathroom bill': North Carolina lawmakers announce deal on HB2 standoff

RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina leaders reached an agreement Wednesday on the repeal of House Bill 2, popularly known as the "bathroom bill," lawmakers said.

Sources told WSOC-TV earlier in the day that Gov. Roy Cooper reached a deal with Republican leadership to repeal HB2.

"I support the House Bill 2 repeal compromise that will be introduced tomorrow,” Cooper said in a statement sent out late Wednesday. “It's not a perfect deal, but it repeals House Bill 2 and begins to repair our reputation."

Republicans and Democrats spent several hours Wednesday in closed-door meetings.

Republican Senate leader Phil Berger and House Speaker Tim Moore addressed reporters Wednesday night saying there was an agreement, but did not take any questions.

Details of the agreement were not immediately available.

The new bill, HB142, will be voted on Thursday.

HB2 blocks expansion of LGBT rights in local ordinances and requires transgender people to use public restrooms corresponding to the sex on their birth certificate.

The NCAA has said North Carolina won't be considered for championships from 2018 to 2022 unless HB2 is changed. The group has said site decisions would begin getting made this week.

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