House Bill 2 (2016) Coverage

Robinson campaigning on transgender restroom usage as he seeks GOP nomination

Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, currently the front-runner in North Carolina's Republican gubernatorial primary, is campaigning on the issue of transgender people and restrooms. Political experts say the issue probably won't help him in November.

Laura Leslie, WRAL capitol bureau chief

New anti-trans laws see little backlash

Republican legislative leaders don't believe the business community will react to new laws governing transgender people the same way they did in 2016.

Will NC's new transgender laws repel businesses? GOP leaders don't see HB2 repeat

Republican legislative leaders don't believe the business community will react to new laws governing transgender people the same way they did in 2016.

Laura Leslie, WRAL Capitol Bureau Chief

'You're killing my kid': Over protests, House advances bill to ban gender surgery for trans teens

The House Health committee voted on party lines Tuesday to approve a bill that would ban teens from receiving gender-affirming surgery, even with a parent's consent.

Laura Leslie, WRAL capitol bureau chief

Triangle, NC-linked businesses remain relatively quiet on LGBTQ bills in General Assembly

More than 300 businesses have signed on to a statement from the Human Rights Campaign in a message to all the states considering the same kind of bills that are working their way through the General Assembly right here in North Carolina.

Matt Talhelm, WRAL reporter

NC businesses stay mostly silent as state lawmakers push LGBTQ+ legislation

Some people believe the bills bring flashbacks to 2016 and House Bill 2.

Matt Talhelm, WRAL reporter

New session of North Carolina legislature could bring more culture war issues

A shift in the balance of power plus high turnover at the state legislature will likely mean a different mix of bills on the agenda as the 2023 legislative session gets underway this month.

Slimmer margins, new faces likely to affect NC lawmakers' 2023 agenda

A shift in the balance of power plus high turnover at the state legislature will likely mean a different mix of bills on the agenda as the 2023 legislative session gets underway this month.

Laura Leslie, WRAL Capitol Bureau Chief

Former NC commerce, environmental secretary John Skvarla dies

Skvarla led North Carolina's Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Department of Commerce during former Gov. Pat McCrory's tenure.

Bryan Anderson, WRAL state government reporter

LGBTQ advocates protest Parents' Bill of Rights

Teachers, parents and student advocates lined up Thursday to speak out against a section of the proposed Parents' Bill of Rights legislation before the Senate health care committee.

Critics of NC LGBTQ student bill raise concerns about privacy, suicide rates

Teachers, parents and student advocates lined up Thursday to speak out against a section of the proposed Parents' Bill of Rights legislation before the Senate health care committee.

Laura Leslie, WRAL capitol bureau chief

Fact checking McCrory, Walker claims from the WRAL U.S. Senate debate

Former Gov. Pat McCrory claimed that the North Carolina Chamber of Commerce supported the controversial HB2 "bathroom bill." Former Congressman Mark Walker said mischaracterized an abortion debate. PolitiFact checks four standout claims from their U.S. Senate debate.

Paul Specht, PolitiFact reporter

Ponysaurus Brewing invites Lt. Gov. for a beer, launches fundraiser for LGBTQ in his name

A Durham brewery has launched a fundraiser for the LGBTQ community in response to comments made earlier this year by Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson.

Kathy Hanrahan, WRAL lifestyle editor

Lights, cameras of film industry make a comeback in NC

WRAL Investigates found the lights, camera, action are making a big comeback thanks to new grant program that allows film and television productions to recoup some of the money they spend in North Carolina.

Cullen Browder, WRAL anchor/reporter, and Randall Kerr, WRAL Investigates Sr. producer

Wake anti-discrimination ordinance aims to strengthen protections for LGBTQ residents

Wake County leaders have worked to put forth a message of acceptance in Raleigh. The ordinance Wake County is considering aims to reinforce that message.

Chris Lovingood, WRAL reporter

Charlotte passes ordinance banning discrimination against LGBTQ+ residents

Charlotte city council passed a new ordinance protecting for LGBTQ+ residents on Monday.

Maggie Brown, WRAL multiplatform producer

NC lawmakers nix anti-trans bills

Bills targeting transgender people are the latest chapter in America's culture war. But this time, North Carolina lawmakers say they're not planning to be on the front line.

NC lawmakers take a pass on latest culture war

Bills targeting transgender people are the latest chapter in America's culture war. But this time, North Carolina lawmakers say they're not planning to be on the front line.

Laura Leslie, WRAL Capitol Bureau chief

Five years later, Democratic lawmakers still fighting to erase HB2, promote LGBT rights

Democratic House and Senate lawmakers introduced a package of bills Tuesday they say will extend greater dignity and equality to LGBT people across North Carolina.

Sloane Heffernan, WRAL anchor/reporter

Ban on nondiscrimination laws affected housing, employment rules in NC

North Carolina cities and towns can once again pass local anti-discrimination ordinances after a statewide ban on such laws expired Wednesday.

Last vestige of NC's notorious HB2 - ban on local nondiscrimination ordinances - quietly ends

North Carolina cities and towns can once again pass local anti-discrimination ordinances after a statewide ban on such laws expired Wednesday.

Laura Leslie, WRAL Capitol Bureau chief

After 4 years, how well did Gov. Roy Cooper live up to candidate Roy Cooper's promises?

Thirty-one campaign promises from 2016 were tracked and graded.

Travis Fain, WRAL statehouse reporter

Settlement in NC lawsuit opens more public bathrooms to transgender individuals

Transgender individuals can use bathrooms matching their gender identity in many government buildings in North Carolina under a settlement approved by a federal judge Tuesday.

Matthew Burns, WRAL.com senior producer/politics editor

Facebook apologizes to Franklin Graham for deleting HB2 post

Facebook has apologized to evangelist Franklin Graham after temporarily banning him from the site due to a April 2016 post about North Carolina's House Bill 2, known as "the bathroom bill."

Spellings to leave as UNC president, sources say

University of North Carolina President Margaret Spellings plans to step down as the chief executive of the 17-campus system, sources told WRAL News on Thursday.

Matthew Burns, WRAL.com senior producer/politics editor