California keeps NC travel ban despite HB2 repeal

California's attorney general says North Carolina's repeal of a strongly criticized law doesn't protect LGBT people from discrimination. Consequently, he says the country's most-populous state will continue its ban on taxpayer-funded travel to North Carolina.

Posted 10:28 p.m. Apr 12, 2017 — Updated 3:35 p.m. Apr 13, 2017

RALEIGH, N.C. — California's attorney general says North Carolina's repeal of a strongly criticized law doesn't protect LGBT people from discrimination. Consequently, he says the country's most-populous state will continue its ban on taxpayer-funded travel to North Carolina.

Attorney General Xavier Becerra announced the decision in a statement Wednesday.

A California law went into effect in January barring state-funded travel or other spending in states with laws that discriminate against LGBT people. The law leaves it up to Becerra to keep a list of which states are banned.

Gay-rights groups argue North Carolina's repeal of House Bill 2 is inadequate because the replacement legislation still bars local governments from passing nondiscrimination ordinances covering sexual orientation and gender identity until December 2020.

California also bans taxpayer-funded travel to Kansas, Mississippi and Tennessee.

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