A controversial bill that would have restricted transgender access to bathrooms and locker rooms in North Carolina is dead, at least for now. The bill, introduced in March by a group of Senate Republicans, faced comparisons to the infamous 2016 House Bill 2, which led to widespread boycotts and national criticism. The new legislation would have required individuals to use bathrooms matching their gender at birth and prohibited transgender people from changing their birth certificates.
Despite the bill’s controversial nature, it failed to gain traction in the state Senate ahead of the legislative deadline. Senate leader Phil Berger acknowledged that the bill lacked the necessary support to move forward before the Thursday crossover deadline, effectively killing it under the chamber’s rules. “I don’t see that at this point the runway exists for that bill to be passed by the Senate between now and crossover on Thursday,” Berger stated. He also rejected comparisons between the current bill and House Bill 2.
However, some lawmakers remain cautious, warning that the issue may not be entirely resolved. Sen. Jay Chaudhuri (D-Wake) expressed concern that the bill could resurface next year, particularly during an election cycle when controversial legislation is often used to galvanize the Republican base. “Just because we haven’t heard a bill similar to HB 2 doesn’t mean that it couldn’t pop up next year,” he said.
Sen. Lisa Grafstein (D-Wake) noted that, while the failure of the bill is a temporary relief, the sheer number of anti-trans proposals surfacing in the legislature remains alarming. “It’s hard to celebrate the lack of something happening because we’ve seen so many bad things happen,” Grafstein remarked, referencing the wave of anti-LGBTQ legislation introduced last year.
Although the bathroom bill is on hold, other measures targeting transgender rights are still advancing in the North Carolina legislature. One bill passed by the House would expand medical malpractice claims for “de-transitioners,” individuals who received gender-affirming care as minors and later decided to detransition. Another bill on the Senate’s calendar seeks to protect parents who refuse to support their children’s gender transition from being accused of child abuse.
The most contentious of these measures is the “Parents Protection Act,” which would prohibit state agencies and courts from classifying the denial of a child’s transgender identity as abuse or neglect. The proposed law, introduced as both Senate Bill 442 and House Bill 560, also protects foster care and adoption agencies from being penalized for denying placements to families who do not support gender transitions.
Republican lawmakers defend the bill as a means to preserve parental rights, while critics argue it could harm transgender youth by legitimizing neglectful or unsupportive environments. During debates, Rep. Deb Butler (D-New Hanover), a foster parent, argued that placing trans children in unsupportive homes would only compound their trauma.
The persistence of these legislative efforts highlights how North Carolina Republicans continue to prioritize targeting transgender rights, even as broader social issues like healthcare access, economic development, and public safety demand attention. Critics question why lawmakers are investing so much energy in restricting the rights of a marginalized community rather than addressing more pressing state concerns.
While the bathroom bill’s defeat is a relief for many trans advocates, the broader legislative landscape remains fraught with challenges. Activists are cautiously optimistic but remain vigilant, knowing that similar bills may arise again as election season approaches.
