In a sweeping reversal, North Carolina lawmakers voted Thursday to repeal and replace a costly and highly criticized law that restricts which public restrooms transgender people can use, backing down in the face of mounting economic pressure.
The measure now heads to the Democratic governor, who is expected to sign the measure despite intense opposition from gay rights groups.
Under an agreement announced late Wednesday by top Republican and Democratic leaders in the state and formally approved hours later after a lengthy debate, lawmakers repealed the so-called “bathroom bill” and, in its place, imposed a three-year ban on local governments enacting nondiscrimination ordinances.