Gov. Pat McCrory says he’s still pushing for changes in HB2

Gov. Pat McCrory said Friday he’s still pushing lawmakers to make changes in House Bill 2 before they adjourn.

“That’s my goal,” McCrory told reporters after Friday’s debate against Democratic rival Roy Cooper. “My goal is to reverse the one part I think was wrong, that is, allowing people to sue for discrimination in state courts.”

The governor has asked lawmakers to amend the law, which sparked nationwide criticism by requiring transgender people to use the bathroom or locker room of the gender on their birth certificate in public facilities. One part of the law prohibits people from taking their anti-discrimination claims to state court.

He has asked lawmakers to change that provision. But with lawmakers rushing to adjourn their so-called short session, there has been no visible move to do that.

“I want to push for that,” McCrory said Friday. “I hope it occurs within the next week to two weeks.”

Asked about the issue this week, House Speaker Tim Moore told a reporter that “there are a number of issues still being discussed, but I wouldn’t want to comment specifically.”

“There’s clearly conversations still happening,” he said, “but as far as what will happen, nobody really knows at this point.”

This story was originally published June 24, 2016 at 4:05 PM with the headline "Gov. Pat McCrory says he’s still pushing for changes in HB2."