NC House circulates draft bill with significant changes to HB2

RALEIGH, N.C. — The North Carolina House of Representatives is circulating a draft bill that would make significant changes to controversial House Bill 2.

A source told Channel 9 the bill is still evolving and is likely to continue to change in the days ahead.

Channel 9 reporter Jim Bradley tweeted the news Tuesday afternoon.

Here's what the draft is suggesting:

It would require the state to adopt federal anti-discrimination standards.

It would also create a state “certificate of sex reassignment.”

That that would allow transgender persons who've had reassignment surgery to use the bathroom they identify with, but the draft does not address those who identify as transgender, but haven't had the surgery.

The draft would also create tougher penalties for crimes in bathrooms and establish an anti-discrimination task force.

These potential changes come as the state reels from negative publicity from HB2, but legislators Channel 9 talked to said it's still too early to say how much of this draft bill will ever make it to a legislative vote.

“There's still a lot of work to do before we get to a final product. And a lot of meetings to be had and a lot of discussion to be had. And this is a work in progress, a collaborative effort,” said Rep. Charles Jeter.

Since House Bill 2 was signed into law 400 businesses and organizations from Wells Fargo to Bank of America and the NBA have spoken out in opposition.

In April, the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority said the local economy could lose up to $86 million because of the law.

Groups have even canceled events and dozens more have considered backing out.

Stay with wsoctv.com for more on this developing story.

Cox Media Group