Raleigh, N.C. – The North Carolina House of Representatives voted 70-48 on Thursday to pass House Bill 142 ‘Reset S.L. 2016-3,’ a bipartisan vote that resets House Bill 2 and completely preempts local governments from regulating multi-occupancy bathrooms, showers, locker rooms and changing rooms across the state.
“This measure strengthens privacy protections statewide by providing a complete preemption of local governments regulating bathrooms, changing rooms and showers so that women and children are protected across the state,” said Speaker Tim Moore.
Facts About the House Bill 2 Reset:
House Bill 142 strengthens state law on shower and locker room protections with an outright preemption on regulation of access to multiple occupancy facilities by local governments.
No local government – cities or counties – may create any additional category of non-discrimination or pass any regulation of restrooms, shower facilities, public accommodations or employment.
House Bill 142 ensures that persons of the opposite sex cannot go into designated multi-occupancy restrooms, showers and changing rooms by preempting local governments to preserve the authority of North Carolina criminal law on trespassing, indecent exposure and peeping.
Criminal Laws that Apply:
Second Degree Trespassing Law in North Carolina – G.S. 14-159
Indecent Exposure in North Carolina- G.S. 14-190.9
Peeping in North Carolina G.S. 14-202
House Bill 142 is a commitment to the people of North Carolina that bathroom policies cannot be regulated by local governments, taking the issue off the table and empowering state criminal law to apply and protect vulnerable citizens like children in the privacy of showers, restrooms and changing facilities.
Women and children will not ever have to feel vulnerable in public facilities because House Bill 142’s preemption of local government regulations ensure North Carolina criminal law protects them.